MUST - Mentoring Urban Students and Teens

Enjoying the weather while it lasts, with some Pickleball — you don’t go wrong when you get your body moving. #MentoringIsAMUST #CohortLife #BuildingBrotherhood // #Pickleball

Things are not as they appear on screen… it may all be an illusion at the Museum of Illusions. Combining education with mind bending tricks of the eye, makes for a good time with friends! #MentoringIsAMUST #CohortLife // #MOISeattle #MindBlown #SeattleMagic

Legacy is a M.U.S.T. October is Emotional Wellness Month, focusing on how we prioritize self-care. This month, we want to highlight those in our community who emulates this through legacy. Originally from San Francisco, CA, Roberto Jourdan was recruited to play Football for the University of Washington in Seattle, where his roots remain today. After retiring from firefighting, where he also led the Black Firefighters department, he has spent his time as president to two vital organizations of Black legacy in Seattle: Festival Sundiata (pronounced: Soon-jah-tah) — the longest running African American festival celebrated in the Pacific Northwest and Seattle (involved / president for 20+ years) Royal Esquire Club in the heart of Columbia City — a private African American men’s club in Seattle (president since 2015) When he speaks of being a part of revitalizing Seattle’s Black legacy, both voluntary roles he serves with true joy: “Being able to be part of something within the Black community that expands your lifestyle, makes things better for you and makes you smile, no matter what race you are… all for the betterment [of your community]” keeps him motivated. When talking to Roberto, his voice immediately puts you at ease and you cannot help but smile along with him. His wise words translate to the way he speaks of his motivation to care for himself: to be healthy for his family, both physically and mentally. Oftentimes, witnessing the health of someone’s family speaks volumes to their own health — this is Roberto. He prioritizes his self-care and stays motivated because of his love for his family and community. “You wanna be there for [your family], the way you are living, being the best place you are physically and mentally… [You want your children to say,] “He was always there when I needed him, in a positive vein.” At the same time Roberto says seeing them continue to strive allows him to “use [my children] to boost myself up and know what [I am] doing it for.” His parting words to the young Black males in the M.U.S.T. community: “What we do is worry about how we look or how we seem to somebody else… [but remember] there is somebody that would trade places with you. [We should focus on] doing the best you can with what you got.” #MentoringIsAMUST #BlackExcellence #Legacy // #EmotionalWellnessMonth To learn more about the Royal Esquire Club: royalesquireclub.com To learn more about Festival Sundiata: https://lnkd.in/dfsg83Cw

Check out what we did this past summer. Summer 2024 Recap Newsletter https://lnkd.in/gQWuwNAz

Experience is a M.U.S.T. “You mean the wood doesn’t cut itself? ~ Barack Blanco, while chopping the wood for the fire. Keeping all of us laughing! To kick off the new school year of M.U.S.T. programming, Mentees, Mentors, and staff embarked on an overnight trip to the Red Barn Ranch hosted by the Buffalo Soldiers of Seattle. This end of summer retreat was a time for the M.U.S.T. community to celebrate their achievements and welcome new Mentees into the program. The Buffalo Soldiers of Seattle led the group in unique, experiential activities that challenged the Mentees individually and as a team. Mentees and Mentors prepared their campground, pitching tents and building campfires, learned to ride and care for horses, competed in archery and dodgeball competitions, and cooked trout on an open flame. These activities were framed around educating the group about the history of the Buffalo Soldiers, and the significance Black history has played in the Pacific Northwest and across the United States. This final summer outing was intended to set the tone for the coming year, empowering M.U.S.T. youth to discover who they are and inspire them as they continue on their path to liberation. “Just a little seasoning and a fire. It felt natural.” ~ J’Andre Castillo on cooking his trout on the open fire. You can learn more about The Buffalo Soldiers of Seattle at: https://lnkd.in/gDAqyQeW #MentoringIsAMUST #BuffaloSoldiersofSeattle #KnowYourHistory #BlackHistory

🎶 Take me out to the ball game 🎶 #MentoringIsAMUST #CohortLife

Summer Cohort Life Recap — 2024 From a day on the water, to a staple Seattle food festival, to some friendly competition, to a day at a water / theme park, to shooting hoops — M.U.S.T. spent the summer connecting and building brotherhood! Fall 2024, here we come… #MentoringIsAMUST #CohortLife #Summertime #BuildingBrotherhood

During his one year anniversary month with M.U.S.T., we want to give a shout out to our Program Manager, Aaron Pitts! He spent his early childhood in Compton, CA and San Bernardino, CA, eventually landing and grew up in Rialto, CA. Then 10 years ago, in August 2014, the birth of his oldest daughter led Aaron to Seattle. On top of working with our young kings at M.U.S.T., he is also the Head Baseball coach at Evergreen High School in Seattle. This past Spring, he was also named the Head Football coach! Thank you for your commitment and being an example for our Mentees, Mentors, and the high schoolers you coach, helping them find their own true liberation, Aaron. For more about Aaron’s background (and the rest of our staff), check out his bio on the website, under the "Who We Are" tab, "M.U.S.T. Staff" sub-tab. Link in profile. #MentoringIsAMUST #OneOfOurOwn // #BlackExcellence #RepresentationMatters #BlackLiberation

Check out our latest newsletter recognizing our 2024 Graduates! https://lnkd.in/dGfJr5eC

“M.U.S.T. has taught me so much and given me so many new experiences. It’s surrounded me with people who look like me and given me confidence in who I am.” ~ Loren Lewis, Mentee Graduate Work hard, play hard! In one last outing, our 2024 graduates celebrated their great accomplishment with their M.U.S.T. brothers and the leadership team who has coached and supported them the past four years. In between all the fun of the 3-day trip -- from checking out Venice Beach, to the Madame Tussaud’s Wax Museum, to a day spent at Universal Studios -- the group took time to reflect on their past, reminisce about their experience being a M.U.S.T. Mentee, and discuss their plans for their futures. When asked if they would recommend M.U.S.T. to other Black males, one Mentee had this to say, “yeah, definitely. I think it helps kids get off the streets and gives you someone that genuinely cares about you, gets you outside, talks with you about life and what you want to do after high school, because that’s what really matters”. Other Mentees echoed this sentiment and talked about the impact having a Mentor has had on their lives, shared about their hopes for their futures, their college plans and/or the careers they look forward to. As they headed home, the group contemplated the bittersweet end of the unforgettable journey they had embarked on as M.U.S.T. Mentees, proud of who they had become and what they had achieved, excited and ready to move forward into adulthood to continue on their authentic paths in life. Congratulations to our 2024 graduates! #MentoringIsAMUST  #ClassOf2024 // #WorkHardPlayHard #BlackExcellence #2024Graduates