RiSE Up Youth — Youth Leadership and Mentorship Program
Leadership development and mentorship for middle and high school youth.
More Than Advice. Real Mentorship.
Young people need more than advice. They need trusted mentors, safe spaces, and real conversations that help them build confidence, make better decisions, and see a clear path forward. Many youth are navigating school, relationships, family responsibilities, and future planning without consistent guidance or a community that truly invests in their growth.
RiSE Up Youth creates that environment. A space where middle and high school students can develop leadership skills, explore their goals, and build the habits that shape a stronger future, all within a community that believes in who they're becoming.
What You Can Expect at RiSE Up Youth
- Build leadership and communication skills through real, guided conversation
- Gain financial literacy awareness you can apply immediately
- Develop habits around goal setting and accountability
- Connect with mentors and peers who are genuinely invested in your growth
- Leave each session with one clear action to take before the next gathering
How It Works
RiSE Up Youth sessions are built around Legacy Circles, small group gatherings where youth come together with facilitators and community mentors for honest, structured conversation.
Sessions begin with a leadership reflection or check-in, inviting participants to share something they're learning about themselves or their goals. From there, guided discussions explore real-life scenarios youth face in school, friendships, family responsibilities, and future planning. Facilitators connect these conversations to the L.E.G.A.C.Y. framework so participants understand how leadership, accountability, and decision making shape their future.
Each session also introduces financial literacy concepts through the FLAG curriculum, helping youth understand how money, planning, and responsibility connect to long-term stability. Sessions conclude with a goal-setting activity where each participant identifies one action they'll take before the next meeting.
Sessions typically run 3 hours and are held at the West Haven Public Library on Elm Street. Schedules are announced seasonally through the website.
What Youth Will Gain
- Stronger leadership and communication confidence
- Early financial literacy awareness and practical goal-setting habits
- Greater understanding of how decisions today shape outcomes tomorrow
- A supportive community of peers and mentors invested in their future
Who RiSE Up Youth Is For
RiSE Up Youth is open to middle and high school students in West Haven and Greater New Haven. No referral or application is required to join. Sessions are facilitated by Family First Initiative leadership and community-based mentors committed to youth development.
If you're a parent or caregiver looking for a free, structured leadership program for your child, this is it.
What Youth Are Saying
RiSE Up in Action
Youth engaged in Legacy Circles and community partner sessions.
