Home >> Programs >> Leadership Programs >> Minority Achievers

The YMCA Minority Achievers Program

The YMCA Minority Achievers Program is a leadership development program that focuses on college preparation and career exploration for students in grades fifth through ninth.

Students focus on individual growth areas, learn social skills, and participate in lifestyle training workshops.

Adult Achievers from various corporations throughout the community help students gain the necessary attitudes to make positive life choices.

The YMCA Minority Achievers program (MAP) began in 1971 at the Harlem, New York YMCA. The purpose of the program was to to help youth develop life coping skills and educational goals by actively becoming involved with adult role models and mentors who had been designated as achievers by their employers. Since its inception, MAP has grown successfully and is now a part of the YMCA program nationally.

The Minority Achievers Program is multiracial, and does not exclude based on race; the program will help youth and teens-of-color develop to their fullest potential with the following goals in mind:

• Exposing participants to opportunities and experiences beyond their home environment;
• Encouraging continuing education as a key to future success;
• Interaction with positive adult role models (the Adult Achievers) other than the youth's parents;
• Nurturing and building the youth's self-confidence and life skills;
• Establish a career development program.

The YMCA Minority Achievers Program will bring Adult Achievers, selected by sponsor companies, for youth from Hartford and surrounding communities. These Adult Achievers will reap several benefits:

• Public recognition of their success at the program's Annual Banquet;
• A feeling of satisfaction from having a positive impact on a youth's life;
• Learning presentation and interaction skills which will improve their ability to do their job;
• Networking opportunities with other Adult Achievers and participating organizations.

Program components consist of educational and structured field trips, financial literacy and self-esteem workshops. Additional services may include career clusters consisting of workshops focused on selected careers ranging from medical, legal to engineering as well as non-profit. These workshops will be facilitated by the Adult Achievers nominated by their organizations, to participant in the program. The program serves children in public schools in Bloomfield, East Hartford and Hartford. Youth and teens participating in the program will do so for a number of years, greatly impacting their positive experience.

Companies who sponsor Adult Achievers in the program will benefit by:

• Positive publicity for their support of YMCA Minority Achievers Program;
• Young people better equipped to enter the workforce through the lessons learned in this multi-year program;
• Measurable results will be based on participation, school retention rate within a formal school setting, and by utilizing the YMCA of Greater Hartford's association Teen Cabinet audit and evaluations;
• An activity which clearly shows the company is actively promoting a diverse workforce and recognizes the value of its employee's accomplishments.

Back to top