The Project Onyx
Mentorship Program
Our Programs
“Success is to be measured not so much by the position that one has reached in life as by the obstacles which he has overcome while trying to succeed.”
— Booker T. Washington
Dreamers Program
We all have dreams of who we may become as we grow older and these dreams are hugely affected by our experiences and those who guide the way. We will provide these young adults a peak into these professions, stoking their interests in these fields in hopes they will pursue them as a career. In this 12-week program, their mentor will guide them through the basic requirements to enter these professions, give them exposure to the various settings, provide them leadership opportunities (through our empowerment program) and service projects for our communities.
Qualified applicants include BIPOC individuals who are high school aged or those with no background in these fields with a strong desire to pursue health and fitness careers.
Future Professionals Program
To find your passion and actively pursue it is a special and unique experience. It is even better when you have a guide who can help you develop as a person and professional. Our Future Pros program is designed to provide young adults that are currently pursuing the health and fitness professions a unique experience that develops them into knowledgeable, empathetic, and influential leaders. These future professionals will be provided with the keys to being successful in these fields and given knowledge of how to navigate these spaces as a BIPOC individual. This is achieved through 12 weeks of mentorship, shadowing experiences, Networking opportunities, Empowered youth leadership program, volunteer work, and virtual discussions.
Qualified applicants include BIPOC individuals currently pursuing degrees in these fields at the collegiate/university level, are pursuing credentials in these professions, or have just recently started their young careers.
*We are not currently accepting applications for this program*
Core Values of Mentorship
Opportunity, Representation, and Exposure
We firmly believe that lack of opportunity, representation, and exposure all play a large role in the inequities we witness in the health and fitness industry. We plan to reverse that trend by providing our mentees with the opportunity to communicate and network with a variety of professionals, visit and observe multiple settings, and frequently communicate with professionals who can relate to them. In turn, our mentees will become the representatives who normalize racial diversity in these professions.
Empathy and Compassion
If we are to tip the scales and eliminate racial health disparities, it starts by each of us having both empathy and compassion for those in the BIPOC communities. This same consideration must be maintained when working to improve our client’s health no matter who they are. Our mentees will learn to treat each client with empathy and compassion above all else.
Knowledge is Power
It is crucial to develop the foundational knowledge necessary to provide sound and effective health and fitness programs. For our youth mentees, this means building an awareness of the areas of knowledge they must gain as they pursue these careers. For our future professionals, we focus on expanding their current knowledge base and develop a desire to continually expand their understanding of health and fitness.
Understanding the ‘How and Why’
Gaining the education necessary to work with clients as a health and fitness professional is paramount to a successful career. Equally important is developing the skill of understanding the ‘how and why’ of our thought process and decision making. We focus this program on building those skills to help our mentees become more thoughtful and effective professionals.