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Life Direction Partners with CET

For the past two years Life Directions has been providing Peer Motivation, Peer Mentoring and Neighborhood Enrichment programs for CET students and their families.

The Peer Motivation program is where achieving and less-achieving attitudes meet head on - students are encouraged to make life-giving decisions. The program uses a variety of instructional techniques, including role plays, conflict resolutions and "interactives", to inspire participants to strive for excellence.

The Peer Mentor program offers the opportunity for CET students to mentor at-risk 8th grade students from neighboring grammar schools. Adult coaches from the community are linked with the CET students, to provide guidance in their growth and development as leaders. The curriculum for the Mentor Program is based on 6 key concepts for young adult maturity:

• Belonging
• Safety and Security
• Competence
• Search for Meaning
• Change
• Identity

Finally, the Neighborhood Enrichment Program offers opportunities for CET students and their families to link their charitable consciousness to the positive impact on civic values and their neighborhood and community at large. Students participate in this program after school and during break time. This is done in partnership with their peers and with young adults in the high schools. The outreach activities include bi-lingual, multi-cultural events, seasonal gatherings and weekend workshops and trainings.

Life Directions - Chicago

Life Directions has been inspiring young adults in Chicago since 1990. Tom Howard is the Director of Life Directions, Chicago, which is based in Chicago's Westside.

Vision: Life Directions Vision is Peers Inspiring Peers Through Forgiving

Mission: Life Directions' Mission is to motivate young adults, ages 13-35, especially the economically poor who are "at risk", to mature into responsible, productive adults through self-direction. The core values that guide the Mission are:

• Self responsibility for one's own future - I am a victim if I want to be because I am in control of my own choices.
• Balance in relationships - I have talents and non talents and I choose to relate to others so that our lives are a compliment to one another.
• Partnership in diversity - I want to see differences among cultures and creeds as an opportunity to reverence diversity.
• Fostering a mission driven attitude - I am passionate about life and I want to pass on to the next generation what has been entrusted to me.

For more information about Life Directions, go to: www.lifedirections.org