Dear Community Partners,

In February 2019 we hosted the 1st Annual RISE! Male Empowerment Conference for young men at Heritage High School. Over 200 young men and over 100 mentors and supporters attended the event. While this one-day event was a success, I knew that something much larger was needed in Newport News Public Schools to engage and inspire our young men to become better scholars, leaders, and human beings.

After careful consideration, the RISE Male Empowerment Network was launched in the fall of 2019. The RISE Network was created to empower and support both existing male mentorship initiatives and future initiatives in Newport News. I firmly believe that by connecting existing mentorship programs to shared resources we will create more opportunities for our young men that align with the strategic goals of our school division.

The goal of the RISE! Male Empowerment Network is to increase the capacity of mentorship initiatives to improve student outcomes such as academic achievement, attendance, discipline, citizenship and college and career readiness.

I invite your organization or group to become part of the RISE network. Your organization or business may join as a Mentorship Program Participant or Business/Community Supporter by completing the membership form and returning it to Dr. Diron Ford, RISE Network Coordinator, via email at diron.ford@nn.k12.va.us. Questions may be directed to Dr. Ford at (757) 886-7530.

We also invite you to attend our 2nd Annual RISE! Male Empowerment Conference, “The Power of HIStory,” on Saturday, February 8, 2020 from 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at Heritage High School. We have a dynamic day planned for over 300 young men and parents who will attend the event. Please come out and support the event or become a conference sponsor. A sponsorship form is included.

I firmly believe that when we change the life of one young person, we not only impact our community; but, future generations to come. Mentorship is impactful and important work. Please join us as we empower our boys to become the competent and successful young men that we know they can be!

Yours in service,

George Parker, III, Ph.D.Superintendent

MEMBERSHIP FORMPlease Return via email to: diron.ford@nn.k12.va.us

Organization or Group: ___________________________________________________________________

Are you a Non-Profit? ☐ Yes ☐ No

Are you interested in joining as a Mentorship Partner or Financial Supporter?

☐ Mentorship Partner ☐ Financial Supporter ☐ Both

Mentorship Partnership [Complete this section]

Name of Mentorship Program: _____________________________________________________________

Does your mentorship program operate in a Newport News public school? ☐ Yes ☐ No

If yes, please list all current schools:

1. ______________________________

2. ______________________________

3. ______________________________

Mentorship Program Primary and Secondary Contacts:

Primary:

Name: __________________________________________________________________________

Phone: _______________________________ Email: ____________________________________

Secondary:

Name: __________________________________________________________________________

Phone: _______________________________ Email: ____________________________________

Business or Community Financial Supporter [Complete this section]Organization Primary and Secondary Contacts:

Primary:

Name: __________________________________________________________________________

Phone: _______________________________ Email: ____________________________________

Secondary:

Name: __________________________________________________________________________

Phone: _______________________________ Email: ____________________________________

RISE Male Empowerment Network

Questions? Contact Dr. Diron Ford at (757) 886-7530 or diron.ford@nn.k12.va.us