The Project MALES Student Mentoring Program is off to a great start in the 2017-18 academic year. For the fourth year in a row, Project MALES is partnering with the Austin Independent School District (AISD) and mentoring in twelve sites. We are at the following middle schools: Webb Middle School, Martin Middle School, Mendez Middle School, and Gus Garcia Young Men’s Leadership Academy. In addition, we are at the following high schools: Travis Early College High School (ECHS), Lanier High School, and Reagan ECHS, and Lyndon B. Johnson ECHS in Austin ISD. This year we have also added Burnet Middle School and Eastside Memorial High School as two of our new mentoring sites, within the AISD. Additionally, this semester we have expanded our mentoring services to Manor Middle School, in the Manor Independent School District (MISD) and to KIPP Austin Brave High School, in the KIPP Austin Public Schools system. Our curriculum will focus on the themes of Brotherhood, Leadership, College and Career Readiness, and Health and Wellness, All program activities center on these pillars that anchor our mentoring initiatives with boys and men of color.
Our Mentoring Site Coordinators Enrique Aguayo, Rodrigo Aguayo, Edgar Fidel Lopez, Jorge Rodriguez, Armando Tellez, and Danielle Marie Zaragoza, are each assigned two sites to lead along with a team of UT undergraduate student mentors whom conduct our weekly mentoring sessions. Our UT undergraduate student mentors are trained in a two credit service-learning course concurrent with placement in a school site. In the next few weeks, we will spotlight our schools and the PM team who lead our group and one-on-one mentoring activities at each site. This week we are spotlighting Mendez Middle School and Lanier High School.
Site: Mendez Middle School
Time: Wednesday @ 8:03
Site Contact: Ms. Lydia Araujo, 8th Grade Counselor
Mentoring Site Coordinator: Enrique Aguayo
Mentors: Jeremy Flores (ULN Intern), Cesar Gonzalez (ULN Intern), Sergio Limas, Derrick Martinez (ULN Intern), Issac Mendoza Ibarra, Octavian Moten (ULN Intern), Alex Rodriguez (ULN Intern), America Sierra (ULN Intern), and Edward (August) Torres.
Activity For The Week: Students and mentors will engage in a team building activity that includes getting into teams. In 18 minutes, teams must build the tallest free-standing structure out of 20 sticks of spaghetti, one yard of tape, one yard of string, and one marshmallow. The marshmallow needs to be on top. The goal is to, support our students practice facilitating their own activities. Students will have the opportunity to collectively work together in order to reach a common goal for the group. This activity is intended to help with problem solving, critical thinking, prototyping, and planning.
Site: Lanier High School
Time: Friday @12:30
Site Contact: Mr. Victor Aviles, Parent Support Specialist
Mentoring Site Coordinator: Enrique Aguayo
Mentors: José Aguilar, Diane Campos (ULN Intern), Ismael Castañeda, Evin George, Gedeon Kossia (ULN Intern), Maria Montelongo, America Sierra (ULN Intern), Oscar Zamora (ULN Intern), and Isaiah Zaragoza (ULN Intern).
Activity For The Week: Students and mentors will engage in a team building activity that includes getting into teams. In 18 minutes, teams must build the tallest free-standing structure out of 20 sticks of spaghetti, one yard of tape, one yard of string, and one marshmallow. The marshmallow needs to be on top. The goal is to, support our students practice facilitating their own activities. Students will have the opportunity to collectively work together in order to reach a common goal for the group. This activity is intended to help with problem solving, critical thinking, prototyping, and planning.
