East of the River Clergy Police Community Partnership

As the African proverb says,

“It takes a village to raise a child”.

In a village, every young person can

learn the ways of the world from dozens

of adults outside his or her family.

We cannot expect to create villages in

21^st century Southeast Washington, but we

can give better guidance to our at-risk youth

with the next best thing – mentoring.

Project NIA: Mentoring With a Purpose
Mentoring Children of Promise

The name NIA is a Kiswahili (Kwanzaa) principle meaning “Purpose”. From that principle we derived the motivation for our Mentor Program.

ERCPCP in collaboration with the Peaceoholics presents this mentoring program serving District of Columbia youth, between the ages of 8-18, who have a parent or family member incarcerated. Project NIA believes the community is full of talented, compassionate and skillful adults; thereby, youth are matched with supportive and goal driven mentors, who offer academic, recreational, social and value development to these high risk youth. The program is designed to support positive growth and development through mentorship. We strive to protect, nurture and empower healthy and productive youth by strengthening their self-identity and self-worth, and encouraging positive life choices.

Mentors are recruited from the community and screened. All mentors must:

ü Provide 3 references;

ü Pass a Criminal Background check;

ü Be cleared through the Child Protection Services Registry;

ü Be cleared through the Sex Offenders Registry;

ü Have a valid drivers license and updated car insurance(if driving);

ü Participate in a 2 hour orientation/interview.

Do you want to make a difference? Click here to become a Mentor.

Do you want a mentor? Click here to enroll in Project NIA.

Combined Federal Campaign Designation Number
31960

East of the River Clergy Police Community Partnership, Inc.

4105 First Street, SE · Washington, DC 20032 · (202) 373-5767 phone · (202) 373-5769 fax

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