February 9, 2021 – Sherrod’s Independent Mentoring Program, Inc. (S.I.M.P.) has announced that they have been chosen as a grant recipient for the state’s Restore, Reinvest, Renew (#R3) program. S.I.M.P. was selected as one of 80 recipients out of 398 applications to empower children, youth, and adults.
The mission of Sherrod’s Independent Mentoring Program, Inc. is to educate and enhance the lives of students and empower them to soar to their next level of greatness by dedicating time to children, youth, and adults who need positive mentors and aid in programs that help promote excellence in various school districts and cities since 2002. In a small program setting, this program provides educational advancement, academic advising, empowerment & leadership, and mentoring for students who are having problems with learning or who are academically fit but just need additional assistance.
S.I.M.P. is ready to begin working with partners in Macon County to provide a service delivery model for youth development, violence prevention, and reentry empowerment programming that meets the needs of the community. The grant program will cover three primary areas:
1). Youth Development and Empowerment Program
Target: early childhood (3-5 years old), childhood (6-11 years old), early adolescence (12-14 years old), and adolescence (15-17 years old).
College Prep Empowerment – provide student opportunities to visit college campuses to learn about skills required for admission to and graduation from their chosen field.
Career Prep / Workforce Development – provide career-oriented workshops and development of a personal college-prep career plan for career field choice.
ASVAB Program for Potential Military Students – their partnership with Decatur Military recruiting stations, they will be able to provide 8 free prep classes to assist with the multiple-aptitude battery test that helps predict future academic and occupational success in the military.
Selfless Service Program – provide service-learning hours and volunteer opportunities that impact local organizations.
Development, Leadership & Community Service Workshops – prepare students with survival tips to help them transition from middle school to high school and high school to college with ease.
Local Leader “Lunch & Learn” Empowerment Sessions – provide the opportunity to meet local leaders, develop criteria for selecting future mentors, and learn about societal factors (Diversity and Inclusion).
2). Violence Prevention Empowerment Program
Target: early childhood (3-5 years old), childhood (6-11 years old), early adolescence (12-14 years old), adolescence (15-17 years old), and young adulthood (18+ years old).
Primary – small group sessions conducted for Pre k-5th grade students through interactive workshops on violence prevention with their mascot “Leo the Violence Prevention Lion.”
Middle & High Schools – Young Leaders In Action, a student-led youth leadership and philanthropy group, will help create a county-wide Youth Violence Prevention Program using active learning workshops, face-to-face, or Zoom, and a 2021 youth conference.
3). Reentry Empowerment Program
Target: young adulthood (18+ years old) incarcerated at Decatur Correctional Center for Women
Designed to help young adults create a positive self-image, overcome obstacles, and “reenter” society to “compete for a job, attain stable housing, support their children and families, and contribute to their society.
A visual description of the program is available here.
