National group mentoring program
“Humans are social beings, and we are happier, and better, when connected to others.”
2024 Sessions
Session 1: Begins the week of January 22nd
Session 2: Begins the week of April 8th
Session 3: Begins the week of August 19th
Session 4: Begins the week of October 28th
There are multiple groups per session and each session lasts for 5/6 weeks!
Youth from anywhere in the country can connect with the Project Avary Community through our online program for children with incarcerated parents.
For years we’ve gotten requests to bring Project Avary to other parts of the country (and world!). Through our exploration of these requests and our commitment to developing a program that was rooted in our values and integrity, we learned that it was 100% possible to create a phenomenal container for community, healing, and transformation in an online space while also powerfully incorporating the four key Avary Way strategies: a supportive community, a common experience of familial incarceration, play and fun, and real talk. And, we’ve done just that...
The National Group Mentoring Program is our newest, most scalable offering. Alongside our on-the-ground Bay Area programs we are now utilizing the power of technology and harnessing the expertise we’ve acquired over the last 20+ years to fuel our vision to bring Project Avary to every corner of the United States.
Continue reading to view the program summary and requirements below…
PROGRAM SUMMARY:
Our program consists of 6 weekly community sessions, which last approximately 60-75 minutes. Sessions will be held online using the Zoom video conferencing platform. Groups will include 6-10 youth participants, ages 8-18, 2 experienced adult facilitators, and a teenage junior counselor, all who have personal experience with parental incarceration. After completing the 6-week program, youth may apply to return for subsequent sessions, or apply for our teen leadership program, which supports youth to become leaders and counselors within our community.
PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS:
• The youth has a parent who is or was incarcerated
• Is between the ages of 8-18
• Is willing and able to commit to attending all 6 initial group meetings
• Is aware of their parent’s incarceration
• Is meaningfully impacted by this experience
• Has internet and device access during scheduled group times
Get to know us: Would you like to take part in an orientation meeting before signing a youth up? Contact Outreach Coordinater, Natasha Blakely, at (209) 565-4145 or natasha@projectavary.org to set up a phone call.
“There was a time when people felt the internet was another world, but now people realize it’s a tool we use in this world.”
