Mentor Wednesdays
Written By Marsha Eaglin
Mentoring matters in today’s society where youth experiences unbelievable obstacles in life with low sociopath-economic conditions, absent parents, generational educational deficits, homelessness, and the daunting violence that exists in most Chicago communities IMPACT services.
Improving the social-emotional deficits among the teens is vital in the mentor program objectives.
Expanding the window to the world through mentor sharing and field experiences helps youth to see beyond their neighborhood. The introduction to life beyond creates a desire within the youth to seek more opportunities to learn and explore new horizons.
One of the highlight of Mentor Wednesday is the popular IMPACT Family Dinner. For most youth they never experienced a family meal filled with sharing and interacting. For most, our dinner is the only balanced meal they will experience. We eat nutritious well-balanced meals with out mentors and youth. Youth are introduced to a variety of foods and cuisine outside of traditional soul food and fast food they are used to eating. Many will say they do not eat vegetables and certain foods that are better for them nutritionally, but once they taste the new food items, they grow to like them. Since 98% of the youth we serve qualify for free lunch, they welcome the meals and even the option to take home leftovers. Parents are usually surprised that their children eat foods they’re not accustomed to, and many have also grown to request and like the meals prepared at IMPACT.
It is our goal to have youth influence their families to make healthier food choices and preparation styles. For instance, the number one favorites is Cajun Roasted Chicken (aka “Crack Chicken”) because it is so tasty, it’s addictive. More families are learning that frying is not necessary and the choice of healthier cooking oil matters. This can have a positive effect on the chronic illnesses that plague our target communities. Many of the illnesses that are prominent have a correlation to eating and food choices that have become generational favorites and the culprit causing and perpetuating chronic illnesses that are killing our families.
Some of our best times of sharing is when we break bread together.
Mentor Wednesday and soon to some Mentor Saturday are opportunities to give back and IMPACT a life.
Improving the social-emotional deficits among the teens is vital in the mentor program objectives.
Expanding the window to the world through mentor sharing and field experiences helps youth to see beyond their neighborhood. The introduction to life beyond creates a desire within the youth to seek more opportunities to learn and explore new horizons.
One of the highlight of Mentor Wednesday is the popular IMPACT Family Dinner. For most youth they never experienced a family meal filled with sharing and interacting. For most, our dinner is the only balanced meal they will experience. We eat nutritious well-balanced meals with out mentors and youth. Youth are introduced to a variety of foods and cuisine outside of traditional soul food and fast food they are used to eating. Many will say they do not eat vegetables and certain foods that are better for them nutritionally, but once they taste the new food items, they grow to like them. Since 98% of the youth we serve qualify for free lunch, they welcome the meals and even the option to take home leftovers. Parents are usually surprised that their children eat foods they’re not accustomed to, and many have also grown to request and like the meals prepared at IMPACT.
It is our goal to have youth influence their families to make healthier food choices and preparation styles. For instance, the number one favorites is Cajun Roasted Chicken (aka “Crack Chicken”) because it is so tasty, it’s addictive. More families are learning that frying is not necessary and the choice of healthier cooking oil matters. This can have a positive effect on the chronic illnesses that plague our target communities. Many of the illnesses that are prominent have a correlation to eating and food choices that have become generational favorites and the culprit causing and perpetuating chronic illnesses that are killing our families.
Some of our best times of sharing is when we break bread together.
Mentor Wednesday and soon to some Mentor Saturday are opportunities to give back and IMPACT a life.
Apply to Become A Mentor!
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Give Meals For Mentor Wednesday
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