Programs and Activities

Hollar at me!

Is a unique presentation that engages youth by having 3to 6 speakers from MIMIC talking about how they’ve learned from some mistakes in their past and how to make better choices for themselves moving forward. Each speaker has a different personal history which covers a range of experiences, such as: prison time; exposure to, or being victims of violence; participation in gangs, selling drugs and substance use; graffiti writing; and homelessness. Many of the youth MIMIC interact with are dealing with similar challenges. Each speaker explains what it took and what it still takes to overcome negative obstacles in order to live a healthy and productive life. Youth are encouraged to ask question and discuss decision making processes with presenters during breakout sessions that follow the presentation.

The Hook Up!

By collaborating with community based organizations, recreational centers, and faith-based organizations, MIMIC becomes a bridge for at risk youth who choose and want to be reconnected back into school, family, and society.

Mimic Challenge

The MIMIC challenge is a comprehensive group mentoring model which often starts with the “Holler At Me” presentations at schools in the North Philadelphia community that have negative reputations when it comes to violence, high dropout rates and low educational achievement. When MIMIC traditionally goes into these schools they ask the school to identify their “worst” kids behaviorally. If the school chooses do combine the Holler at me program with follow-up workshops these kids could be placed into the Jr. MIMIC program. Over the course of a 10 to 15 week series of MIMIC presentations/workshops, that can be tailored in length and content to meet the needs of any school or organization, youth have the benefit of learning from the real life experience of men who have turned their lives around. The MIMIC facilitators share insight into how to confront challenges using coping strategies, how to define education, career and personal goals, and how to avoid peer-pressure. All students have an opportunity to work in small groups and one-on-one with someone from the MIMIC group with whom they identify. In general, the youth begin to have a greater sense of self- awareness, self esteem and begin to work towards identifying and achieving personal goals.

Mentoring

One of MIMIC’s goals is to create an abundant network of volunteer mentors to work one -on- one with young people in the North Philadelphia/West Kensington area of Philadelphia. MIMIC is in the process of building its capacity to train and recruit more male mentors for the young people we work with. As we develop new partnerships and programs there are ways we can offer group mentoring during classroom workshops and invite all youth in community events we host.

Life Line

Life line is a system that was developed for youth in the 24th, 25th, and 26th police district areas. MIMIC business cards are distributed throughout street corners and schools. Youth and parents are provided the opportunity to contact a MIMIC member for advice on how to handle challenging situations.

Jr. Mimic

Junior MIMIC is comprised of youth that have either participated in a Holler at Me presentation, the MIMIC Challenge program, have had some form of individual or group mentoring by a MIMIC member, and/or may have called into the lifeline. The Jr. MIMIC Members must go through a similar leadership development training process (i.e. the MIMIC Challenge), as the MIMIC members are required, to become an official member of the group and have decision making roles. Jr. MIMIC Members with the ongoing guidance and support of MIMIC members, participate in all MIMIC events, plan and host events of their own, participate in post secondary education and career goal planning activities, attend city wide cultural events, and eventually mentor the younger Jr. MIMIC Members. Jr. MIMIC members are also a tight knight group who support one another in their daily lives – on top of which they have a lot of fun together too!