The Level Up program by New Pathways for Youth serves local teens who live in extreme poverty and have experienced at least 3 major childhood adversities such as abuse, parental incarceration, or addiction in the home. Beyond the instability and insecurity that makes it difficult to meet their most basic needs, these youth experience social, emotional, and cognitive obstacles that bar them from living the joyful, purposeful life that every young person deserves. 

The Level Up program by New Pathways for Youth (NPFY), is changing that. We are building a future where every young person can live their life with joy and purpose, confident in their ability to decide their own path. 
To make it happen, we provide 1:1 mentoring with a dedicated adult and a proven program for personal growth along with tailored goal-setting and connection to vital resources. In doing so, we’re transforming the lives of youth by providing the support, stability, and skills they and their families need to flourish. 

Our holistic, research-based program is proven to generate remarkable outcomes for the youth we serve - from improved mental health and personal wellness to academic success and greater high school graduation rates. We give them the tools and resources to not only achieve safe, healthy lives, but find fulfilling career paths, seize new opportunities, and enhance their relationships with their families, peers, and all those around them. But, the key to all of it is the relationship between the youth and their mentor. 

Now, you might wonder if youth in the program are LGBTQ+, and the answer is yes.  Over 30% of Level Up youth identify as LGBTQ+.  You might also wonder if we match our LGBTQ+ youth with LGBTQ+ mentors, and the answer is sometimes, but 100% of time we match mentors with the youth that our professionals believe you can impact the most. New Pathways for Youth is committed to Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, and we believe that our volunteer mentors should be just as diverse and wonderfully unique as the youth we serve. To that end, New Pathways for Youth is very intentional to ensure that the principle of inclusion is reflected in all we do. 

Through mentoring, you’ll become more involved with the community, and you’ll gain valuable insights, skills, and fulfillment. Mentoring allows you to share your story and experiences and provide much needed guidance. If you can picture yourself making a meaningful impact in the life of a young person, or if you can picture yourself showing up with kindness and care for a teen who may feel alone in this world, we invite you to check us out by signing up for a virtual mentor introduction session. This 1-hour session covers all the details you need to know if becoming a Level Up mentor is a good fit for you. 

If your company or organization would like to support New Pathways for Youth with mentor recruitment, we’ll send one of our vivacious and experienced guest speakers to headline your next lunch & learn or kick off your next staff meeting.  To share our mission with your workplace or professional, social or faith group, book a presentation with an NPFY guest speaker.  
To learn more about Level Up and NPFY, or to make a donation, visit npfy.org.