When members of three Florida Chapters of The Links, Incorporated approached Senator Darryl Rouson with the idea of creating a consortium to mentor youth and build character, he did not hesitate to provide leadership and assistance. The St. Petersburg (FL) Chapter of Links, Inc. offers a Career Mentoring Academy aimed at high school students in grades 9-12.
ST. PETERSBURG — Senator Darryl Rouson has consistently advocated for changing lives for the better. When members of three Florida Chapters of The Links, Incorporated approached him two years ago with the idea of creating a consortium to mentor youth and build character, he did not hesitate to provide leadership and assistance.
Consortium members included Tallahassee (consortium lead), Daytona Beach, and St. Petersburg Chapters of the Links, Incorporated. Because of Senator Rousons’ leadership, the project was funded to impact youth statewide.
The St. Petersburg (FL) Chapter of the Links, Incorporated, offers a Career Mentoring Academy (CMA). This academy is aimed at high school students in grades 9-12. The focus is on various career paths, including entrepreneurship and understanding the characteristics that must be achieved to succeed in that profession.
What sets the CMA apart from other youth programs is that participants will gain real-life experience in career exploration and development. They will learn about character traits and the education/training needed to succeed in their career of interest.
There are 60 slots available for youth who are interested. Participants of the Career Mentoring Academy will:
- Gain leadership and life skills development, mentoring, character education
- Learn habits of highly effective teenagers and mechanisms to elevate self-esteem and awareness.
- Strengthen their understanding of the value of education and optional pathways to career choices (technical/community college, university, workforce/entrepreneurship)
- Be exposed to entrepreneurs/self-employed experts and the opportunities to own your own business.
- Receive career strengthening resources, scholarship awards, and recognition upon program completion.
Applications will be accepted on a first-come, first-serve basis through March 11. Interested applicants should reach out to Ms. Sabrina McCoy at sabrinaamccoy@yahoo.com.
About The Links, Inc.
The Links, Incorporated is an international, not-for-profit corporation established in 1946. The membership consists of more than 16,000 professional women of African descent in 292 chapters in 41 states, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of the Bahamas, and the United Kingdom.
It is one of the nation’s oldest and largest volunteer service organizations of extraordinary women who are committed to enriching, sustaining, and ensuring the culture and economic survival of African Americans and other persons of African ancestry.
For more information, visit www.linksinc.org.
