Frequently Asked Questions
- I’m a high school student that doesn’t belong to a traditionally underrepresented population, but I could benefit from your program. Can I apply?
- What schools do you currently target in Durham Public Schools?
- I’m a high school student that attends a high school not currently served by your program. Can I apply?
- When does registration open for new students interested in applying?
- How often are your Saturday Academy sessions?
- Do you provide transportation to and from your sessions?
- I’m interested in volunteering in the program. What’s the best way to get involved?
- Are you a registered 501 (c) (3) non-profit?
- How is the mentor/mentee relationship monitored?
- How often should we expect phone calls from our child’s mentor?
- Is it alright for me to contact my child’s mentor?
- Do you provide scholarships for students?
- Do you partner with other local non-profits?
- How long have you been in operation?
- Do you train your mentors?
- If I am a current student in the program, do I have to reapply annually to continue my participation in the program?
- Is there a fee associated with participating in the program?
- Do you offer fee waivers?
- What are your parent(s)/guardian(s) expectations?
- What are your mentor expectations?
- What are your mentee expectations?
- What is your mentee attendance policy?
- How do you match mentees with mentors?
- What happens if the mentor/mentee relationship is not working?
- I am a student who is currently in middle school but will be attending high school when the program starts. Am I eligible to apply?
- I am a student who is a rising high school senior. Am I eligible to apply?
- I don't have a 2.5 GPA. Am I eligible to apply?
1. I’m a high school student that doesn’t belong to a traditionally underrepresented population, but I could benefit from your program. Can I apply?
Although Movement of Youth is primarily geared towards students from traditionally underrepresented populations, students from all backgrounds are welcome to apply. Movement of Youth prohibits discrimination in all its programs and activities on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability, and where applicable, sex, marital status, familial status, parental status, religion, sexual orientation, genetic information, political beliefs, reprisal, or because all or part of an individual's income is derived from any public assistance program.
2. What schools do you currently target in Durham Public Schools?
We currently target the following schools in Durham:
- Durham Tech Middle College High School
- Hillside High School
- Hillside New Tech High School
- JD Clement Early College High School
- Jordan High School
- Kestrel Heights School
3. I’m a high school student that attends a high school not currently served by your program. Can I apply?
Absolutely. Have a guidance counselor or teacher write a recommendation letter to accompany your application.
4. When does registration open for new students interested in applying?
We accept applications year-roung. Student selection normally ends around late August/early September.
5. How often are your Saturday Academy sessions?
Twice a month. Check out our schedule for more information.
6. Do you provide transportation to and from your sessions?
We generally do not provide transportation to and from our sessions. The exception would be out-of-town field trips.
7. I’m interested in volunteering in the program. What’s the best way to get involved?
We’re glad you asked that question. Click “Get Involved” to learn about how to volunteer with Movement of Youth.
8. Are you a registered 501 (c) (3) non-profit?
Movement of Youth is a registered 501 (c) (3) non-profit organization. All donations made to Movement of Youth are tax deductible.
9. How is the mentor/mentee relationship monitored?
The mentoring relationship is tracked through monthly contact reports that outline mentor activity with the mentee. Mentors are expected to spend at least one hour a week with their mentee in any capacity (in-person, on the phone, etc.) in order to maintain constant communication and to build a relationship. We discuss the mentoring relationships during monthly chat sessions. This allows mentors to discuss their mentoring experience as well as address issues they have been facing.
10. How often should we expect phone calls from our child’s mentor?
You should expect phone calls from your child’s mentor at least once a week.
11. Is it alright for me to contact my child’s mentor?
Parents are encouraged to contact their child's mentor.
12. Do you provide scholarships for students?
At this time, Movement of Youth does not provide scholarships for students. Movement of Youth assists by providing resources to identify appropriate scholarships and helping students through the scholarship application process.
13. Do you partner with other local non-profits?
Absolutely. If you are a non-profit and would like to partner with us on events, please contact us today.
14. How long have you been in operation?
We have been in operation since 2006.
15. Do you train your mentors?
We train our mentors on an ongoing basis. Our training is based on best practices developed by the National Mentoring Partnership.
16. If I am a current student in the program, do I have to reapply annually to continue my participation in the program?
It is not necessary for current students to reapply annually to continue participating in the program.
17. Is there a fee associated with participating in the program?
For first time applicants, there is a $25 application fee due upon applying to the program, and a $25 participation fee due upon acceptance to the program. These fees help offset the cost of the program. For current students, there is a $50 annual participation fee.
We do offer fee waivers on a case-by-case basis.
19. What are your parent(s)/guardian(s) expectations?
Parent(s)/Guardian(s) in the Movement of Youth program are expected to do the following:
- Ensure your child has transportation to the Saturday Academy and Community Outreach activities.
- Communicate with your child’s mentor monthly.
- Attend quarterly parent chat sessions.
- Give candid feedback about program during chat sessions or via online surveys.
- Ensure we have up-to-date contact information.
20. What are your mentor expectations?
Mentors in the Movement of Youth program are expected to do the following:
- Keep track of academic performance of mentees by retaining report cards.
- Serve in the following roles:
- Discussion Group Leader
- Academic Advisor
- Mentor will regularly monitor the academic progress of his/her students (end of each grading period)
- Mentor will assist students with college preparatory activities including, but not limited to:
- College search and application assistance
- Scholarship search and application assistance
- Parent Contact
- Mentor will engage in bi-weekly communication with parents of his/her students
- Designated Driver for special events (21+)
- All mentors 21+ will be required to drive vans to special events (if necessary)
- Complete the following duties:
- Complete monthly contact reports documenting time spent with mentee, conversation with parents, mentee progress, etc.
- Spend one hour a week with mentee (in-person, by e-mail, phone, etc.)
- Talk with parents bi-weekly
- Collect student report cards at the end of each grading period
- Help student search for and apply to at least three colleges
- Help student search for and apply for at least five scholarships
21. What are your mentee expectations?
Mentees in the Movement of Youth program are expected to do the following:
- Attend the fun Saturday Academy and Community Outreach activities, which occur twice a month.
- Work with my mentor to research and apply for admission to post-secondary institutions of higher education.
- Work hard to maintain my academics and aspire towards college.
- During my senior year, research and apply for at least five scholarships.
- During my senior year, research and apply to at least three colleges.
- Commit to at least one phone/email exchange with my mentor per week.
- Give my mentor a copy of my report card at the end of each grading period.
- Make referrals for prospective participants.
- Give candid feedback about the program when requested.
- Act as a positive role model and a mature, responsible young adult.
- Be yourself and have fun!
22. What is your mentee attendance policy?
In order to maintain acceptable attendance in the Movement of Youth Program, students and parents must abide by a Three Strike Rule. This rule will hold each participant accountable for his/her attendance.
If a participant has a valid reason for not attending Saturday Academy or other activities hosted by Movement of Youth, Inc., they must advise the Director of Mentoring prior to such activity. They must call and speak with him in person or leave a message 48 hours prior to the session in order that our records will indicate an excused absence.
Unexcused absences will be recorded, and three such absences will mean that the student can no longer participate in the program. We hope that parents will understand the importance of regular attendance and realize why this rule exists.
Tardiness is another major concern. In order to get full educational value of the program, everyone must be on time. In the interest of developing punctuality, anyone arriving ten (10) minutes after the Saturday Academy has begun will be considered absent.
23. How do you match mentees with mentors?
We match mentees with mentors based on commonalities identified in their applications. These commonalities could include career goals, hobbies, family background, etc.
24. What happens if the mentor/mentee relationship is not working?
If a mentor, mentee, or parent is unhappy with their match, the Director of Mentoring will assess the situation by meeting with the mentor, mentee, and parent. If the current relationship issues cannot be resolved, mentor/mentee reassignment will occur.
25. I am a student who is currently in middle school but will be attending high school when the program starts. Am I eligible to apply?
Students that are rising 9th graders are eligible to apply for the program.
26. I am a student who is a rising high school senior. Am I eligible to apply?
While we typically do not encourage rising seniors to apply for the program (as they will not get the full benefit by participating for only one year), we accept them on a case-by-case basis.
27. I don't have a 2.5 GPA. Am I eligible to apply?
While we recommend that students possess a 2.5 GPA, other factors go into our decision process. Please submit a letter of explanation via e-mail to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .
