The national urban league (NUL), with our network of 91 affiliates in 36 states and the district of columbia believes that educational opportunity is the most effective means and avenue for…

The national urban league (NUL), with our network of 91 affiliates in 36 states and the district of columbia believes that educational opportunity is the most effective means and avenue for empowerment in communities of color and in historically underserved communities. Youth success to, through, and after high school is paramount to our design. NUL proposes to implement the next iteration of project ready mentor (the project), a multistate group mentoring program (competition ID: ojjdp-2022-171253 multistate mentoring category 3) in 12 urban league affiliate communities across 12 states. The proposed project will operate in: greenville, SC; atlanta, GA; charlotte, NC; new orleans, LA; elyria, OH; milwaukee, WI; houston, TX; buffalo, NY; detroit, MI; chattanooga, TN; omaha, NE; and SAN diego, CA. The 12 community project will help disconnected, vulnerable, court-involved, at-risk /at-promise urban youth (predominately african american and latino(a) youth 11-17 years of age develop social and emotional skills, aptitudes, and attitudes; foster anti-bullying and social connectedness; move from grade to grade on time, and graduate high school ready for college or work without the need for remediation by expanding the supply of well-trained mentors (using the elements of effective mentoring standards and enhancements, raising awareness of the power of mentoring, effective family engagement and inclusion, fostering youth assets and well-being and creating, deepening, and sustaining supportive mentor and mentee relationships directed towards reducing risky behavior and promoting social, emotional, and academic development). The project ready: mentor project requires service to a minimum of 45 youth per affiliate per year in each of 12 cities, for a minimum total of 1,620 youth served over the 3-year grant period. Project ready: mentor provides 182 annual hours of opportunities, support, and services, which include and extend those of the participant's local anchor program via mentoring. Project ready: mentor meets the elements of effective practice elements standard and furthermore uses both a relational approach, which aims to develop a sense of efficacy and a