Glover EmpowerMentoring

GEM started in June of 2014, beginning as an all-volunteer organization in the city of Kent, WA. Kendrick Glover and Sylvester Craft recognized the need to provide mentors for young men in the Kent area. Their purpose was to disrupt the school to prison pipeline by reducing dropout rates among middle and high school male youth and young adults in South King County, WA. GEM engages youth and mentors in a three-pronged approach to prevent and reduce delinquency, school truancy, criminal activity and other high-risk behaviors. The goal of this work is to deter young people from becoming a dropout and/or a prison statistic. GEM also address the social and emotional needs of youth and young adult men of color (including but not limited to African American and Hispanic/Latino) in and around South King County in specific the City of Kent, WA. Our vision is that: Through holistic mentoring every young adult is empowered to be principled, responsible, critical thinkers who affect positive change in their community. GEM differs from other type of service providers that offer mentoring services through our unique approach of mirroring the youth we serve.

GEM is a unique mentoring program servicing predominately South King County, addressing dropout prevention and intervention symptoms that prevent youth and young adults from doing what is right for the well-being of self and others. Services include one-on-one and group mentoring, outside referral services where needed and weekly activities that benefit the daily lives of youth and young adults.