The social, economic, and environmental changes that impact at-risk family composition and dynamics also affect the inter-generational support that adolescents can access during their transition from youth to adulthood. This disconnect can leave emerging-adult youth without role models or mentors to support their transition from youth to adult during an especially important period.
The Creating a Village project is a multi-level educational intervention supported through the incorporation of several positive youth development models. It is designed to provide education, mentorship, and leadership opportunities to all participants in the program.
- Skills Mastery in life management such as culinary, healthy living, financial literacy, and agricultural science, which has been a growing demand and incorporates community expertise.
- Mentorship by teens providing direct guidance and support for the middle school participants during club meetings.
- Adult-Youth Partnerships between teen mentors and an adult partner to develop a mutually beneficial joint project as they work with youth participants in the program.
- Expertise from adult volunteers from the community with specific skill sets related to skill mastery to share knowledge and skills with youth participants.