New York – June 4, 2018
Mastermind Connect, a ‘resource group and thought incubator for today’s progressive man,’ is celebrating the one year anniversary of their Young Masterminds Initiative. The group commemorated the milestone by producing the second iteration of the all day event they did last year, which took place on June 2nd in Brooklyn, NY. The group also celebrates their partnership with the New York City Department of Education’s Office of Equity and Access, working with the young men of the NYC Urban Ambassadors Program.
According to Measure of America, the New York metro area has the widest gap by neighborhood in terms of youth disconnection of America’s largest cities. To change the narrative, in 2012, NYC Urban Ambassadors (UA) was founded, which provides young men with purpose, leadership, and distinction. The organization is currently affiliated with over 40 public high schools across the city and is dedicated to cultivating a brotherhood that serves students throughout their journey from high school to college.
“Bringing Mastermind Connect on board has been remarkable. The group’s mantra of ‘Resources, Reciprocity, and Respect’ aligns perfectly with our mission, and we’re excited to see even more growth in the next coming years”
Leslie Ann Dunn, Executive Director, Strategic Initiatives Division of the Senior Deputy Chancellor & School Support
Working in tandem with the goals of the UA, the Young Masterminds Initiative has developed a curriculum that promotes mentorship, leadership and positive self-awareness through the curation of unique experiences. This curriculum includes, but its not limited to the ‘Breakfast of Champions,’ a career-focused panel discussion, and ‘Mastering Your Craft,’ a workshop structured specifically to help students explore skills that may not be taught in the classroom, but are essential to success in professional spaces. Some of the themes for the events include; ‘Building the Next SnapChat’ (Technology), ‘Understanding Your Rights’ (Law), ‘The Ins and Outs of Film’ (Media), ‘Bringing Your Idea to Life’ (Business), and ‘The Business of Sports.’ In order to ensure high quality real world value for the students, Mastermind Connect thoroughly vets all facilitators involved in the program.
“It’s imperative that our members give back to their communities. We make it a mandatory part of the membership,” declared Michael McConnell, Founder of Mastermind Connect. “The pillars of the Urban Ambassador Program exemplify the type of contributions we are focused on passing down to the next generation, which are College Readiness; Leadership; Introspection; Mastery Learning; and Brotherhood (CLIMB).”
In the US, more than one in three young people — an estimated 16 million — never had an adult mentor of any kind while they were growing up. This population includes an estimated nine million at-risk youth, who will reach age 19 without ever having a mentor, and who are therefore less likely to graduate high school, go on to college, or lead healthy and productive lives.
“We are proud of the progress made this past year, and look to the future to grow the Young Mastermind Initiative throughout New York City, and to other cities like Washington DC, where the underserved youth are statistically being marginalized,” affirmed Mastermind Connect’s COO, Manny Almonte. “We want to continue to use our resources to help these young men advance to the next phase in their lives, which is so crucial to their professional development.”
Through strategic partnerships, Mastermind Connect also provides complimentary services for program participants, such as free custom tailored shirts from the premium menswear designer InStitchu, and complimentary grooming services for a year, courtesy of Classic Man Barber Lounge.
On June 22nd, the group celebrates the achievements of the 2018 Class of NYC Urban Ambassadors with a Recognition Ceremony at the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture, located at 515 Malcolm X Blvd, in Harlem NY.
To learn more about Mastermind Connect and the Young Masterminds Initiative, visit mastermindconnect.com/ymi, or send an email to info@mastermindconnect.com.
About Mastermind Connect: Mastermind Connect is a men’s organization that aims to enrich the lives of its members and their respective communities by connecting through ideas, camaraderie, and social good, on an inclusive platform. The pillars of Mastermind Connect are Resources, Reciprocity, and Respect.
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