Youth Program Provides Support for Residents to Stabilize Communities
PHOENIX, April 7, 2015 — Rainbow Housing Assistance Corporation (Rainbow), a nonprofit organization that provides service-enriched housing programs for residents of rental housing communities throughout the country, has held the first three graduations of its recently-launched Tie Me a Future program. With more than 100 current participants coast-to-coast, Tie Me a Future is a resident services program that serves at-risk male youth in character and leadership building through positive reinforcement, self-esteem building exercises, and mentorship to ensure future success and improved self-image.
The eight-week program serves to stabilize multifamily housing communities by guiding resident young men ages 10-16 through a four-step process of transforming self-image, guiding personal thought processes, impacting life choices, and leveraging leadership skills. These graduations honored the first 26 graduates of the program and were held in Houston at Haverstock Hills apartments and in Atlanta at Seven Courts apartments and Caswyck Trail apartments.
Programs such as this, offered by Rainbow, help residents become self-sufficient, contributing members of the community. A recent nationwide study shows that 62% of students who participate in mentor programs improved their self-esteem while 47% of students involved in these types of programs got into less trouble outside of school.
[blockquote]“This program was created as an opportunity for at-risk male youth to tap their full potential through character building and mentorship,” said Flynann Janisse, Executive Director of Rainbow. “By fostering leadership qualities in these individuals at a young age, they will recognize the value in making quality life choices. Because of this, programs like Tie Me a Future ultimately stabilize families and support healthy, safe, and vibrant communities.”[/blockquote]
The program, executed by male mentors, meets twice per week over for the duration of the course. The skills presented to participants include professional style and grooming, understanding of necessary education levels for career choices, common courtesy, effective communication skills, basic resume building and interview skills, and how to tie a tie.
Upon successful completion of the course, participants invite their families to a “tie-tying” ceremony where they are presented with their own tie and cuff links, and recite the Tie Me a Future Pledge as a commitment to making their talents and contributions to the community their highest priority.
The youth participating in the Tie Me a Future program take on the skill set to prepare them to enter Rainbow’s Move Men to Employment (MM2E) program at age 16, which is designed as an employment assistance program that promotes self-sufficiency, resume assistance, computer literacy, personal development, and job assistance. This Rainbow-unique program is designed to offer the necessary tools and skills required to obtain sustainable financial stability through permanent employment in today’s competitive job market. Upon successful completion of the MM2E program, each participant is given what is often their first professional suit in order to successfully enter their local job market.
Rainbow’s resident services division spans communities across 9 states, providing support programs to more than 10,000 households and 7,000 youth daily. Youth programs are focused on educational enrichment, health and nutrition, early financial literacy, and career development.
About Rainbow Housing Assistance Corporation
Rainbow Housing Assistance Corporation (Rainbow) is a nonprofit organization that provides service-enriched housing programs for residents of rental housing communities throughout the country. With award-winning services available throughout the United States, Rainbow seeks to create and preserve quality, affordable housing for families and individuals of diverse ethnic, social, and economic backgrounds.
Media Contact:
Kistie Adams
The Hoyt Organization
(310) 373-0103
kadams@hoytorg.com
