Project MALES kicked off its IMPACT service-learning course for the undergraduate mentors at the University of Texas at Austin last week Monday, marking the fourth year of the class that functions as our core mentor training for our students. Our undergrad mentors enroll in the LA 113P IMPACT where they are introduced to K-12 experiences of Latinx males in the fall class, and Latinx males in higher education experiences in the spring. Topics covered include; critical transitions for Latinx males in the educational pipeline, Latinx male masculinities in middle school, and the importance of successful Latino male role models across the educational spectrum to ensure academic success. This course also provides mentors with training for engaging with the middle and high school males of color they mentor, using a Social Emotional Learning curriculum that we deploy in our weekly sessions with young men of color at thirteen middle and high schools and two school districts, Austin ISD and Del Valle ISD. The curriculum is organized by five pillars or themes that guide our work: brotherhood, leadership, college and career readiness, health & wellness, and identity.
This semester, we offer two Monday sections: 5:00 PM to 6:00 PM and 6:00 PM to 7:00 PM. The course is taught by our Project MALES Program Mentoring staff made up of second-year master’s students [Edgar Fidel Lopez, Armando Tellez, and Danielle Marie Zaragoza] and incoming first-year master’s students [Victor Hugo Martin and Allanah Manzanares]. We look forward to another successful academic year! Please stay tuned for regular updates on our Project MALES Student Mentoring Program events and activities.
