Raising up the next generation of Community Advocates
Teaching the next generation of community advocates how to advocate for positive change, attention, and resources for their local communities.
But Our Mission just starts here...
Advocacy
Leadership Development
Coalition Building
Community Service
College & Career Coaching
Financial Literacy
Scholarships
Advocacy
Leadership Development
Coalition Building
Community Service
College & Career Coaching
Financial Literacy
Scholarships
Welcome to the Youth Community Advocacy Mentorship (YCAM) Program
Year One Participants
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Year Three Participants
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Year Two Participants
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Meet our 2025 Graduates First-Class from the YCAM Mentorship Program
Student Action Shots
Advocacy in Action
Student Action Shot
Fredrick Douglass HS, Atlanta GA
Graduation Date: May, 2025
Why you wanted to be a part of the Mentorship Program?
“I want to make a change in my community.”
Goals after HS: Four-Year College, Vocational/Trade Training
Student Action Shot
Fredrick Douglass HS, Atlanta GA
Graduation Date: May, 2025
Why you wanted to be a part of the Mentorship Program?
“Because I feel like my community can be benefited the most from this program because where I come from I look around and it seems like everyone needs help and I think this program can do that.”
Goals after HS: Four-Year College
Mentorship Program Application Process
First Year Applicant Process
Step 1: Apply
Click the Image Above to Fill Out the Application
Step 2: Recommendation
Click the Image Above to Fill Out the Recommendation Form
Step 3: Peer-lead Interview Process
After the application window closes, selected interview candidates will be picked from the application pool and called into a peer-lead panel interview by our student program leaders (2nd year program students who have been promoted to Leaders in Training (LIT).
Formal Acceptance to the Program and Notification
You will receive a formal notification and acceptance to the program by phone and email and via school-wide announcement at Frederick Douglass HS after which you will receive program start date and next steps.
Returning Leader in Training (LIT) Applicant Process
Step 1: Apply
Click the Image Above to Fill out the Returning LIT Application
Step 2: Complete the Program Interview
LIT candidates will be interviewed in 1 on 1 style interview held at Frederick Douglass HS by the program administrator for consideration to become a new LIT Program Leader
Step 3: LIT Training
Returning LIT Leaders will undergo training to prepare them to help lead the group. Each LIT Leader will share in the responsibilities of the interview and selection process for new participants as well as lead group sessions and be opening presenters during the duration of the program.
Let's Get Ready to Work!
Welcome New LIT Group Leaders! Get ready for an exciting program year full of amazing experiences and opportunities to further develop your leadership skills!
First Year Applicant Process
Step 1: Apply
Click Here to Fill out the Application
Step 2: Get Recommended
Click Here to Fill out the Recommendation Form
Step 3: Peer-lead Interview Process
After the application window closes, selected interview candidates will be picked from the application pool and called into a peer-lead panel interview by our student program leaders (2nd year program students who have been promoted to Leaders in Training (LIT).
Formal Acceptance to the Program and Notification
You will receive a formal notification and acceptance to the program by phone and email and via school-wide announcement at Frederick Douglass HS after which you will receive program start date and next steps.
Returning Leader in Training (LIT) Applicant Process
Step 1:
Click Here to Fill out the Returning LIT Application
Step 2: Complete the Program Interview
LIT candidates will be interviewed in 1 on 1 style interview held at Frederick Douglass HS by the program administrator for consideration to become a new LIT Program Leader
Step 3: LIT Training
Returning LIT Leaders will undergo training to prepare them to help lead the group. Each LIT Leader will share in the responsibilities of the interview and selection process for new participants as well as lead group sessions and be opening presenters during the duration of the program.
Let's Get Ready to Work!
Welcome New LIT Group Leaders! Get ready for an exciting program year full of amazing experiences and opportunities to further develop your leadership skills!
Access the YCAM mentorship program's one-on-one scheduling and progress tracking app.
Already registered? Click here to log in.
Summer Youth Employment and Enrichment Opportunities
Mentorship Program Partners
The challenge for minority children to get
accepted to college just got tougher
Solution: Community Service is more important and valuable than ever before
Community service is color blind and cannot be taken away from a child who is being considered for college application acceptance. Community service hours earned can stand in the gap now left by the Supreme Court decision to reverse affirmative action and speak for our children where their race/color can no longer be a consideration. Therefore, community service can be a distinguishing factor for a child for consideration to college alongside their academic accomplishments.
Program
Focus community service on community advocacy by teaching the next generation of community advocates how to advocate for positive change, attention, and resources for their local communities.
Curriculum
14 week intensive program where participants will work in a group environment to identify a community problem and work to solve that problem over the course of the 14 week program.
Participants will get real-life experience working with city government leaders to bring attention and resources to help solve their identified community problem.
Participants will learn how to build friendly coalitions made up of city government, non-profit departments and organizations to help them solve their identified community problem.
Participants will be interviewed up front by members of the 100 Black Men and 100 Black Women organizations for acceptance to the program.
Participants will present their problem statement and plan as a group to the local Neighborhood Planning Unit (NPU) at a monthly NPU meeting as a requirement for successful completion of the program and write a scholarly essay at the completion of the program describing their experience in the program and how it will help them in their lives and in their communities.
Program Outcomes and Accomplishments
Program participation more than doubled, growing from 5 students in 2024 to 11 students in 2025.
Expanded from serving only 11th graders in 2024 to supporting 10th–12th graders in 2025.
Awarded $4,000 in scholarships in 2024, launching 529 college savings plans for recipients through our My529Plan partnership.
Increasing scholarship awards to $11,000 in 2025, continuing 529 plan support for all recipients.
Enhanced curriculum in 2025 with college and career coaching (Dormoney.ai) and financial literacy education (Regions Bank).
Launched a first-of-its-kind Youth Ambassadors Program in 2025 in partnership with the Atlanta Police Department.
Program participants completed 150 community service hours in 2024 (30 hours per student).
Students will complete 550 community service hours in 2025 (50 hours per student).
Sent one student to Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD) for a summer campus experience in 2024; expanding to three students in 2025.
Sign Up for Updates!
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