Recognizing the value of partnering up with other nonprofits in combined support of their missions, members of the Treasure Coast Exchange Club have taken a group of Youth Guidance Pathfinders Club teens under their wing, sponsoring them in the creation of an Exchange Excel Club. The relationship was generated by Exchange Club member Kim Prado, who also serves as a Youth Guidance board member, mentor and leadership group advisor.
For more than 40 years, Youth Guidance mentors have enriched the lives of local children from single-parent, low-income families. Last year, in an effort to serve an ever-increasing number of eligible children, they created a Mentoring Academy. To maximize resources, the academy has three Program Series categories. Discovery provides year-long, age-appropriate programs; Revolving is open to all age groups on a twice-yearly revolving basis; and Special Interest delivers once yearly programs open to all age groups.
The Pathfinders Club for teens 14 to 18, one of the age groups in the Discovery category, has a curriculum to help prepare students for eventual self-sufficiency through individual development, leadership and team building. Other Discovery categories include Voyagers Club, ages 10 to 13, Explorers Club, ages 5 to 9, and separate Boys and Girls Groups, ages 14 to 18.
“Discovery programs are basically what they say,” says Felix Cruz, Mentoring Academy director. “We do a lot of civic awareness, where they learn how to give back to the community, and that’s what the Exchange Club group evolved from.”
“For me it was just connecting the dots,” says Prado, noting that the Youth Guidance model was closely aligned with that of Exchange Clubs, whose four “pillars” are Americanism, youth activities, community service and child abuse prevention. “We are able to incorporate those weekly and follow through with the model Youth Guidance had already started. They also completed nine projects which is wonderful for such a young group.”
The Pathfinder Excel Club teens elected and installed its first officers last fall at a swearing-in ceremony attended by Exchange-ites and community leaders. “It was the first time any of them ran or served in office. I was very proud of them,” said Cruz.
Having completed two projects in each pillar plus an extra two, the teens earned the National Service Award from the National Exchange Club. “They’re the first Excel Club to have met that criteria,” adds Prado.
At their weekly meetings, the teens have learned everything from how to create individual budgets and file simple income tax forms to shaking “paws” with a retired military bomb dog, brought in by a guest speaker from Dogs for Life. The Red Cross worked with them on first aid and is coming back to speak about hurricane preparedness and get them CPR-certified, and R.J. MacMillan has taken them up in his plane to learn about aviation.
“They also had a mock voting session,” Prado remembers. “The Supervisor of Elections came in and set it up, and they had their own mock vote, running for City Council. They really enjoyed that. She even made up voter registration form cards.”
“The key is we still have been able to maintain our core standard of mentoring,” Cruz explains. “It’s not just someone speaking in front of the room. We teach our children to give back to the community; that’s basically the main concept. Each of the mentors is assigned a smaller group of kids for group mentoring, making sure they remain interactive, guided and are paying attention. They maintain some competitiveness within the groups.”
Given the opportunity to send a coalition of five to the three-day Florida District Exchange Club convention in Jacksonville, the teens held car washes to raise the money. Prado said several in the group had concerns about obtaining transportation to the car wash.
“I asked them, how badly do you want this?” remembers Prado. “All three took the bus. They knew they wanted to be there; they figured it out. Again, it’s all about how to make decisions.”
“Now they’re learning to be independent; they’re learning to be committed and responsible,” agrees Cruz.
“We let the kids decide who was going to go to the convention,” says YG board chairman and mentor Kevin Moree. “It was not based on who helped at the carwash. They decided that those who had been coming the longest and were here every week should be the ones who attended. It surprised all of us adults.”
“I was very proud of how they came to that decision,” agrees Prado.
Of the convention, Moree says, “I can’t overstate how powerful it was. I think it was life-changing for at least one of them. It was really a big deal. They were the only group that stayed the entire weekend. They were extremely well behaved.”
One of the teens’ more recent projects was the creation of a Wall of Honor mural – painting a big flag on canvas, to which they’re adding pictures of Indian River County veterans. The finished product will be dedicated to Youth Guidance as its Americanism project.
Mentors, individually and/or in group sessions, volunteers and speakers, and of course funding, are always needed for all of the Youth Guidance children – each of whom has a thirst for knowledge and a need for positive role models.
To get involved call 772-770-5040.
