teamupmentoring

Family Life | Family Photos

Mon, 12 Jan 2026 18:44:56 GMT

Capturing Moments, Creating Memories: The Importance of Family Photos

If you're like me, you probably spent part of your childhood at a grandparent's home where family photos from different generations had pride of place. Now, in our fast-paced digital age, where memories can easily be forgotten as we scroll through endless digital posts, the value of printed family photos cannot be overstated. Family photos are more than just images captured on paper – they are records of love and laughter and reminders of the bonds that tie us together .

Family photos serve as time capsules, preserving moments that we hold dear.

Because we serve families over a 12-18 year period, these snapshots bring back immediate memories of love, laughter, and achievements as children turn into young adults and laugh lines start to show on mentors and staff.

This year, we finally realized a dream we’ve had for a while: providing professional family portraits for our clients. Luckily enough, we were able to partner with Photovation Elite to provide free professional family portraits to the families we serve.

As I watched families sit down together on the big couch, adjusting one another’s shirts, listening to instructions from the photographer and giggling nervously – I couldn’t help but think of the photos in my grandparent’s home. By documenting our family stories through photos, we create a legacy that can be passed down through generations, helping future family members understand their roots and heritage. I was ecstatic that this partnership was providing a tangible heirloom for our Team Up families.

In a world filled with distractions and constant motion, we need anchors that ground us in the present and connect us to our past. Family photos are more than just images – they are expressions of love, laughter, and togetherness. So, let's not underestimate the power of a family photo. Take the time to capture these moments, cherish them, and let them serve as a reminder of the incredible gift that is family.

Graduation | Latoya

Mon, 12 Jan 2026 18:44:55 GMT

If there was a Team Up legacy, Latoya was the first one to carry the torch. Our founder, Anna, loves to remind Latoya that she knew her before she was born, since her older siblings (already involved at Team Up) couldn’t wait to share the news when they found out they were getting a baby sister!

“I remember the day Latoya went to kindergarten with a pink backpack that was about as big as she was. And I have all these memories of her growing up as a giggly eight year old, a middle schooler, figuring out what it means to be a teenager, and a high school student and now a high school graduate.”

-Anna Blount, Founder

As the young kid in her own family, Latoya has followed in the path of her older siblings, coming to Team Up mentoring nights and events consistently since she was around 3 years old. If you don’t know her personally, you’d probably recognize her in a few iconic Team Up photos :)

“I think I'm most proud of Latoya for her perseverance and how she's kept going.”

- Anna Blount

About a year and a half before graduation, Latoya found out she was going to become a mom and worked with Team Up staff to come up with a way for her to finish school (early at that!) while going through this transition. Latoya was able to enroll in Faith Academy to continue her education online.

During her pregnancy and continuing after having her son, Akari, Latoya chose to come to Team Up to access technology and get occasional assistance with her school work each week until her graduation in May. With her degree from Faith Academy, she is currently getting ready to pursue college classes in Athens Tech.

We are in awe of you, Latoya, and we can’t wait to see what’s next for you and Akari. We love you!

Graduation | Angel

Mon, 12 Jan 2026 18:44:52 GMT

Angel is the youngest sister of three Team Up siblings (Lavor and 2023 grad, Unyque) and started to attend Team Up as a pre-k kid. If you've been around Team Up, you know can always count on Angel to come to ALL Team Up activities, as long as her work schedule allows.

From helping write up social contracts for our Teen Leadership Academy to letting Brady know when a younger teen needed help from an adult, Angel can be trusted to show up, not just for herself, but for her family, her friends, and her community.

“When I think of Angel Booker, I think of someone who embodies resilience, hard work, loyalty, and heart. No matter the challenge, she has faced it head on and absolutely crushed it.”

- Brady, Teen Director

We've watched Angel grow from a Kpop loving little girl with big dreams to a Kpop loving big girl with big dreams, all while building a work ethic to match those dreams. In her senior year, while working 20 hours at her job and finishing school, Angel applied (all on her own!) to seven colleges and got accepted to ALL SEVEN.

Angel, we can't wait to see what you accomplish next year and beyond because your future is incredibly bright.

We love you and know your Team Up Fam is always here for you!

Strategy with a Heart: Embracing EOS to Grow Your Nonprofit

Mon, 12 Jan 2026 18:44:49 GMT

Last summer, Team Up Mentoring made the decision to adopt Entrepreneurial Operating Systems (EOS) to strengthen our organization’s strategy. As a nonprofit, it’s often hard to balance the compassion and love we want our stakeholders to feel with the more traditional business aspects (like the alphabet soup of SOPS, P+Ls, and 13WTRs) .

While data, systems, and strategy aren’t the reasons most people choose to work at a nonprofit, those elements are essential to sustaining the good work that nonprofits like Team Up do every day.

Like many nonprofits, Team Up Mentoring found itself feeling stuck when it came to achieving our strategic goals. Where do we start? How do we chip away at such a complex need?

Here's how EOS worked for us:

Infusing EOS into Your Organization: Tips for You

Team Up has started 2025 with some big wins! Our staff reports higher job satisfaction, we accomplished almost 90% of our Quarter 1 goals as a team, and we feel confident we have the right data pulse to make timely course corrections if needed. If you’re thinking about adopting a company strategy for your nonprofit (or for-profit) here’s a few things to keep in mind:

Start with Leadership: Change of any kind is often scary for groups. We completed the first six months of our EOS journey as a Leadership Team before rolling it out organization-wide. Our small leadership team had the opportunity to really understand and use the model before introducing it to anyone else.
Be Honest to Build Trust: As we rolled out EOS elements, we took time to answer questions from our team and offer feedback and support. We took things slowly, making sure one element was mastered before adding another.
Communicate Communicate Communicate: Remembering what someone has told you is hard. When you’re talking strategy, this is especially true - because strategy isn’t the task list in front of staff every day, shouting for attention. EOS helped us clearly communicate our vision by setting a rhythm of reminders across multiple channels (emails, in person meetings, celebrations, swag, etc). That communication is paying dividends already.

Want to learn more about EOS? Check them out here or reach out to Anna by email !

The Next Right Thing

Mon, 12 Jan 2026 18:44:47 GMT

You’ve probably heard this phrase before—it’s everywhere from podcasts to poems. There’s even a song by that name in Frozen 2 . But why does it resonate so widely? I think it’s because of its beautiful simplicity.

Doing the next right thing doesn’t require us to see the end of the road. It doesn’t demand a five-year strategic plan. It’s simply about choosing what you can do in the next moment—the next hour—the next day. And that’s a freeing thought, isn’t it?

If you’re like me, it’s easy to get caught in the “what ifs,” squinting into an uncertain future, trying to solve problems that are bigger than any one of us. Problems are big. We can feel small. And sometimes, a little helpless.

This simple idea helps us recalibrate what we can control. It invites us to act—not perfectly, but faithfully—in the here and now.

“The Next Right Thing” is also the theme we’ve chosen for this year’s Magic Makers Gala on November 6th.

This phrase is important to us because Team Up Mentoring itself began as a series of “next right thing” moments.

One step was as simple as giving someone a ride. Early on, when we met families who didn’t have transportation to access community services, the next right thing was clear: I can give a ride today.

Another step was connecting people. When we visited a family’s home and heard that the kids needed school supplies, the next right thing was picking up the phone: I know someone who can help with that.

And then, there were conversations that opened our eyes to deeper needs. Service providers shared that kids didn’t just need one-time help—they needed caring adults committed to long-term relationships. So we gathered volunteers and matched them with 11 kids. That was the next right thing.

We didn’t set out with a master plan. We simply kept taking the next step. And step by step, those moments grew into the organization you know today.

The idea of “the next right thing” isn’t just part of our history—it’s part of our future . We see it every week.

Every mentor who shows up for their mentee.
Every supporter who chooses to invest in a child’s story.
Every youth who takes a brave step toward trust and growth.

These are all the next right things. And together, they add up to create lasting impact.

At Team Up Mentoring, we believe progress comes from faithful, human-sized steps. It’s not about perfection – it’s about presence .

As we prepare for our Magic Makes gala this November, we invite you to reflect with us: What might your next right thing be? Where is your presence needed?

Because when we each take that next step—no matter how small—we move together toward stronger families, thriving youth, and a more connected community.

Meet the Mentor | Selah Groome

Mon, 12 Jan 2026 18:44:45 GMT

Meet Selah, one of our volunteers who consistently shows up.

How did you first get involved with Team Up?

I first became involved with Team Up in the summer of 2023. A few of my friends had previously worked with the program and shared how meaningful their experiences were. Hearing their stories about the impact Team Up has on kids really inspired me. I wanted to be a part of something that not only works to help the kids but also helps create positive, lasting memories for them.

2. What has kept you coming back year after year?

What has kept me coming back is definitely the kids. I love not only having the chance to impact their lives, but also being impacted by them in return. I came in expecting to make a difference for them, but every summer and school year I left knowing they’ve made just as big of a difference in me.

3. What has been one of your favorite memories or moments as a facilitator?

Picking one favorite memory is hard, but if I had to choose, it would be taking the kids to the Georgia Aquarium. Watching the kids faces light up when looking in the glass at the fish and all the sea animals was so much fun and truly meaningful. It was like experiencing being a kid all over again through their eyes.

5. What is it like serving alongside Parker as facilitators?

Serving alongside Parker at Team-Up has been such a special experience. Watching the way he loves and pours into the kids is something I will always cherish. I also got to see how deeply they impacted him, which made it even more meaningful. Seeing him build relationships and invest in the kids was truly inspiring.

Helping Your Child Through Hard Moments: Trauma-Informed Tools for Parents

Mon, 12 Jan 2026 18:44:42 GMT

Every child has moments when life feels overwhelming — meltdowns, outbursts, or shutting down completely. For caregivers, these moments can feel frustrating, confusing, and even discouraging. At Team Up Mentoring, we walk alongside children and families every day who are learning to navigate tough moments shaped by stress or trauma. Over the years, we’ve developed some unique ways of supporting kids that you can use at home, too.

Our goal is always the same: help kids regulate so they can return to a learning brain and rejoin their activities.

Here are some Team Up–inspired tools for parents and caregivers:

1. See It, Name It

Instead of jumping straight to correction, start by noticing and naming what you see:

“I can see your fists are tight. Your body looks really upset.”

This simple act gives words to a child’s experience they may not have and reminds them they’re not alone. It’s also an invitation for their brain to notice what’s happening inside their bodies - switching gears from responding on auto-pilot to self-awareness. But here’s the key: it’s normal if you feel your own heart racing or body tightening in that moment, too. When you notice your own signals and take one slow breath, you’re modeling regulation and preventing the moment from escalating.

As you take that breath, narrate what you’re doing.

“I can feel my heart speeding up. I’m taking a deep breath to help my heart slow down.”

Your child may or may not take a deep breath with you at that moment - but over time, that script will become part of your child’s toolbox. -It’s not about fixing them — it’s about staying connected while you both steady yourselves.

2. Time-In, Not Time-Out

At Team Up, we use our sensory room as a “time-in” space — not to isolate kids, but to help them find calm. Families don’t need a whole room of sensory tools. A safe corner with calming items (pillows, coloring pages, stress balls) can work wonders.

Most importantly, you join them there. Time-in is a shared pause that says: “We’ll figure this out together.”

When you step into that space, take a moment to regulate yourself, too — a calm presence helps your child’s nervous system settle faster.

3. Micro-Choices that Restore Power

Children who have experienced trauma often feel powerless. Offering even tiny choices restores dignity.

At Team Up, this might look like: “Do you want the green crayon or the blue one?”

At home, it could be: “Do you want to brush your teeth before pajamas or after?”
These small decisions give kids agency and help calm their nervous systems — and they keep you focused on collaboration instead of control.

4. Parents as the “Breathe App”

On an Apple Watch or iPhone, the “Breathe” app buzzes at you — often at inconvenient times — to remind you to pause and breathe. That’s a great picture of your role as a parent.

You might feel like your child doesn’t want your reminders. But just like the app, your calm presence makes a difference. If they take the breath, they’ll feel better.

And when you notice your own body is tight and your breath is shallow, use the reminder for yourself, too. You keep showing up, calming yourself, and helping your child return to regulation — again and again.

5. Repair is More Important Than Perfection

Adults lose their cool sometimes — even at Team Up. What matters is how we repair.

That might mean saying:

“I got frustrated earlier, and I’m sorry. Can we start fresh?”

Have you ever apologized to a child before? They don’t see it nearly as often as they should. It’s one of the fastest ways to build trust and model resilience. Repair shows kids that relationships bend but don’t break.

6. Celebrate Protective Factors, Not Just Achievements

At Team Up, we cheer just as loudly for kindness, problem-solving, or asking for help as we do for good grades.

At home, shift praise from “You got an A!” to “I saw you keep trying when it was hard” or “I noticed you asked for help — that was brave.” These moments build resilience, not perfectionism.

7. Rituals of Belonging

Children thrive when they know they are seen, known, and loved. At Team Up, our rituals of belonging include welcome check-ins, birthday celebrations, and family-style events like our reunion picnic or Christmas party.

At home, your rituals might look like:

A silly handshake at bedtime

A special plate on “hard days”

A simple family mantra like, “No matter what, you’re mine” or “We’re in this together.”

These small rituals anchor kids in connection — even when life feels messy.

At Team Up, we remind ourselves daily that raising a child is an 18-year journey. A meltdown today does not define your child tomorrow. When you step back and see the long story, it softens your response and keeps you showing up with love and consistency.

Parenting is never about perfection. It’s about co-regulation: noticing your child’s stress and your own , pausing together, repairing when things go wrong, and building daily rituals that remind them: You are seen. You are known. You are loved.

That’s what we practice at Team Up Mentoring — and that’s what can transform hard moments at home into opportunities for connection and resilience.

How We Measure What Matters: Team Up’s Journey to Meaningful Evaluation

Mon, 12 Jan 2026 18:44:33 GMT

How do you measure success in your program?
What key performance indicators do you use?
What impact are you making in your community?

As an Executive Director, these questions used to make me want to find the nearest exit. Why? Because nonprofit evaluation can feel overwhelming—especially for holistic, long-term organizations like Team Up Mentoring.

Let me be clear:

I come from an education background. Evaluating student mastery against a set of learning objectives? No problem. Give me five standards and a timeline, and I’ll give you clear ways to measure success. But the waters get murkier in nonprofits—especially one like ours that walks alongside families for 10 to 12 years, often spanning the entire developmental journey of a child.

What should we measure? We’re not focused solely on boosting academic achievement (though we care about that). We’re not just trying to increase self-confidence (though that matters too). Our mission is broader: we want kids to grow up well, in every sense of the word—whatever that looks like for them.

If you're in a similar space—supporting real people with complex, individualized needs—you know that no single measure of success captures the whole story. But here’s how we moved from confusion to clarity. (Spoiler: most of this didn’t cost money—but it did take time, commitment, and a lot of recalibrating.)

Step 1: Start with Outputs

This was the easy part. We tracked program attendance, workshops offered, transportation mileage, volunteer hours—you name it. It wasn’t transformational, but it was a start. We created spreadsheets and dashboards to reflect the core activities that kept our programs running.

Step 2: Create a Logic Model (Yes, We Shuddered Too)

Logic models are notoriously tricky, especially for long-term, relationship-driven work. But thanks to a pro bono capacity-building initiative, two of our staff members worked with experts over several months to build one that made sense for us. It gave us shared language and clarity around our short-term, mid-range, and long-term goals.

Step 3: Struggle Through the Murky Middle

Short-term KPIs? No problem. But mid- and long-term goals like “graduates create a ripple effect in their community”? That’s harder to quantify. We had the logic, but we needed better tools to tell the story.

Step 4: Adopt A Management System and Streamline

For us, that system was the Entrepreneurial Operating System (EOS). Our leadership team used it to revisit our logic model and streamline what we tracked. We trimmed our KPI list to focus on what really mattered. We also made sure our data collection with clients was purposeful—not just surveys for the sake of checking boxes.

Step 5: Level Up with AaEA

Our breakthrough came with the Atlanta-area Evaluation Association (AaEA). Their pro bono team worked with us for eight months to refine our framework. We focused on our Student Life Program and developed evaluation tools that could track progress over time—from program intake to graduation. Thanks to AaEA, we’re now equipped to measure things like self-confidence, decision-making, and resilience over the long haul.

Today, we’re still learning—but we’re not lost. Our team has a framework, a shared language, and a focus that lets us track impact in ways that matter to us and to the youth and families we serve.

If you’re walking this same road—know that you don’t have to have it all figured out. But you do have to keep going, ask good questions, and stay committed to learning what really moves the needle for the people you serve.

Team Up Values: Foundations of Our Impact | Excellence

Fri, 23 Aug 2024 14:04:12 GMT

Family News Issue 11

At Team Up Mentoring, our mission is to foster generational change for children and families significantly affected by trauma. That looks like providing support and empowering our children and families over the long-term. Our core values— Curiosity, Kindness, Bravery, Excellence, and Consistency —are the bedrock of our approach. They guide our interactions, shape our programs, and ensure we provide the best possible support to those we serve.

In our past blogs, you read about how we use consistency and curiosity to guide our everyday actions here at Team Up Mentoring. Continue reading on how we do the same with excellence.

Excellence at Team Up means you can count on us to do what needs to be done, completely, every day. We are committed to the small tasks that, over time, lead to larger successes. Our dedication to excellence ensures that every interaction, every program, and every effort is infused with great love and attention to detail . By striving for excellence, we demonstrate to our families that they are worthy of the highest quality support and care.

A shining example of excellence here at the Team Up office is an intern turned employee, Regan .

The Joys of Summer Camp

Tue, 06 Aug 2024 15:02:51 GMT

Family News Issue 10

As we sit here and try to wrap our heads around the hustle and bustle that the Team Up facilities (and beyond!) experienced the last 2 months — the smiles, the growth, the friendships, and the triumphs — we are beyond thankful for people like YOU who make it happen.

To celebrate a successful summer and move into Fall Mentor Nights (can you believe it?), here is some summer camp JOY from our Team Up staffers!

What are some activities or field trips that stuck out to you the most during summer camp?

I really enjoyed our time at the Oconee Aquatics Center. At OAC, I enjoyed watching the teens have a great time on the waterslides, and I was super impressed with the way they behaved and interacted with people who were not involved with Team Up (something that we talk about often).

The trip to Panama City Beach stood out to me the most! I loved seeing how the kids interacted with each other and made new friendships, and I also enjoyed watching the kids get out of their comfort zones. Even the encouraging words from some of their peers when doing things like jumping into the deep end of the pool was so great to witness!

The Atlanta Zoo field trip was definitely the highlight of our summer. We made the best new memories! Another day that was surprisingly a highlight of our summer was a field trip to the library to hear from a beekeeper. He brought a beehive and the kids were so fascinated watching the bees and trying to find the queen bee! Afterwards we went to Scoops for a sweet treat!

Is there an example of a time where a kid was helpful, kind, or brave?

There was a time when one of our kids was feeling overwhelmed and needed some time to de-escalate. A younger teen was very good at checking in and talking with that teen. It was so kind and emotionally intelligent to see the way he could interact with this teen and provide almost exactly what the older teen was looking for.

On our beach trip, one student was feeling homesick and another teen took notice. He was so insightful and helpful in pulling the older student out of this funk. He even helped him write a letter home and shared what he likes to do when he feels homesick.

We had a superhero this summer who asked to help set up lunch every single day of camp. I am so proud of this student for showing kindness without being asked, and we were eager to let her help in this capacity. She really stepped up as a leader! We had such an amazing group of students this summer and we are truly blown away by how helpful, kind, and brave they all are.

Did you notice any kid(s) grow from the beginning of summer camp to the end?

One of our kids what has admitted that she has struggled with anger issues at home was asking me for help on how to avoid getting angry during a confrontation. We talked about breathing exercises, counting in your head before speaking, journaling and a few other helpful strategies. About 2 weeks later, she came and talked to me about how she got upset at home and was able to use the strategies we talked about to cool herself down in order to have a calm conversation. I was super proud of her for listening and choosing to put those strategies into use!

One new camper had a lot of behavior struggles in the beginning weeks, and anytime he lost a point due to this, it would take a lot of time for him to settle down. However, a staff member was there to help him understand the importance of different rules and explain that Team Up is a safe space for making mistakes, but that we also hold each other accountable. By the end of the summer, he was able to go to the prize box every week because of his improved behavior! And if he did end up losing a point, he handled it so well. Through patient and loving conversations, he learned that it is okay to make mistakes and that he has the capability to be a leader and set a good example. He improved so much, and it was rewarding to know that our conversations were so effective and fruitful.

In what way did Summer Camp get you excited for Mentor Nights in the fall?

Summer Camp was a fun introduction to many new faces and personalities that will be in TLA this school year, and it was a chance to continue to grow relationships with the teens that have been around for a while. I am looking forward to serving more youth this school year than we have in the recent past!

We had so many new students this summer! I am excited for them to come back this fall and continue to watch them form relationships and grow with TUM! It has been fun watching how excited the new kids are that there is a program that they can continue to come to during the school year.

Mentor Nights are going to be filled with new faces thanks to kids getting their first intro into Team Up with Summer Camp! These kids are so lovable, and it wasn't long before they built amazing friendships with their mentors and other kids. It is so sweet to see our Team Up family grow and knowing that we have so many new, incredible kiddos makes me excited to begin mentoring again!

Team Up Values: Foundations of Our Impact | Curiosity

Tue, 23 Jul 2024 14:04:23 GMT

Family News Issue 9

Curiosity drives us to recognize that our knowledge has limits . In working with children and families affected by trauma, it’s essential to ask good questions and avoid making assumptions. We seek first to understand, rather than to be understood. By approaching each situation with an open mind and a genuine desire to learn, we create an environment where every individual feels heard and valued. Curiosity allows us to tailor our support to meet the unique needs of each family, fostering trust and deeper connections.

Actually, Team Up Mentoring started because of a spark of curiosity. Anna Blount, our Founder and Executive Director, had been helping with a bus ministry that picked up kids from the community to take them to church. When Anna ended up providing a temporary home for one of the students, her curiosity grew.

By the end of her senior year of college, Anna graduated from the University of Georgia. Although she had previously intended to pursue her education in veterinary medicine, Anna decided that the kids like the one she temporarily housed while a college student needed more – and she was all in for finding out what exactly they needed. Instead of applying for vet school, Anna started researching. She sifted through data, conducted a needs assessment, hosted key stakeholder meetings and poured over studies.

Ultimately, her curiosity led her to start Team Up Mentoring – one of the first programs in the state of Georgia to utilize Adverse Childhood Experiences studies and develop a trauma-informed program.

Still today, one of Anna’s greatest qualities is her ability to get curious. Whether it’s about solving a big problem or mediating between two elementary students – she’s always curious – asking questions, listening with an open mind and making sure everyone feels heard.

These core values are not just words for us at Team Up Mentoring—they are principles that guide our daily actions and decisions. They ensure that we not only meet the immediate needs of our children and families but also foster long-term growth and resilience. Through our unwavering commitment to these values, we aim to create a community where every child and family can thrive.

Student Life | The Last Spring Mentor Night

Tue, 18 Jun 2024 18:41:10 GMT

Family News Issue 8

It is hard to believe that we had our last Mentor Night until the fall almost 2 months ago! Have no fear, though, because our 2024 Summer Camp is just getting started. With our teens starting their summer at Georgia Teen Institute, and our elementary kids having the entire Team Up building to themselves, we have already had a wonderful beginning to what we know will be a great summer.

Before we jump to the fun we’re having now, we can’t pass by all of the fun at our last few Spring Mentor Nights!

We saw the competitive side of some of our teens come out when it was time for kickball! Everyone had a blast and were fantastic team players. In fact, we were even able to sway a few board members who were roaming around the facility to join us. You can check out the video here of all of the fun that was had this night!

They might be competitive, but our teens also have beautiful hearts full of kindness. When asked to write down a few things the rising 6th graders should know before moving into TLA this summer and fall, they truly surprised us in how they led with so much responsibility, making sure the new teens were ready and equipped!

THERE IS NOTHING THESE KIDS CAN’T DO!

As for our little ones - these kids amaze us every day! They are creative, athletic, kind, and thoughtful, and we love watching them grow. We had some beautiful spring weather to end our Spring Mentor Nights (nothing like this Georgia summer heat we’ve been having lately!), so of course we had to spend time outside playing with bubbles, climbing trees, and having friendly competition with games of football and volleyball.

When we weren’t outside, the kids were letting their creativity and imagination flow by doing things like making marbled paper using shaving cream and food coloring! Our older kids channeled their inner artists by creating their own self-portraits, and our younger kids learned all about the importance of talking about their big feelings.

All in all, our last Mentor Nights in April were the perfect way to say goodby to Spring! The good times are still rolling in week 2 of Summer Camp. Make sure you’re following all of the fun on Instagram or Facebook !

Team Up Values: Foundations of Our Impact | Consistency

Tue, 04 Jun 2024 14:04:22 GMT

Family News Issue 7

Over the next few months through this blog, we will be diving in deep to each of our 5 core values, and what they mean to our staff and volunteers.

Consistency is key to our success and the success of those we serve. At Team Up Mentoring, we strive to excel in every aspect of our work, approaching every challenge with determination and a commitment to succeed. Consistent actions build reliability and trust , essential for children and families who have often faced unpredictability and instability . By being dependable, we provide a stable foundation that helps our families feel secure and supported.

Leigh Ann Aldridge, one of our Elementary mentors has seen consistency in action at Team Up. Here’s what she had to say about it:

Family Reunion

Tue, 07 May 2024 14:04:20 GMT

Family News Issue 6

Another Family Reunion in the books! Families, mentors, and facilitators had a blast competing in yard games like kickball, sack races, tug-of-war, and corn hole. As a special treat, the Kona Ice truck stopped by so everyone could cool off after all of the competition fun. To add to the special moments of this spring reunion, our families were thrilled to receive their family portraits that were captured a few weeks ago.

For dinner, we had delicious burgers and hotdogs courtesy of one of our teen mentors, PJ Shippey. Not only did his business, Georgia Farm Bureau, supply all of the meats, he also did all of the grilling! He is a jack of all trades, and we are lucky to have him be part of our Team Up family.

Check out what he had to say about his time with Team Up!

Mentor Spotlight

Student Life | Empathy

Thu, 11 Apr 2024 14:04:17 GMT

Family News Issue 5

On the last Mentor Night of March, our elementary kiddos dyed their very own Easter eggs. But not just any eggs… Dragon eggs! With enough dye laid out for a thousand eggs, the kids hopped into their creative minds and quickly got to coloring. Not only did they get to design and color their eggs, but they also had the chance to eat them! Some kids were more excited than others about this part of the night.

Our younger kiddos got the chance to become Feelings Detectives in one of our Social Emotional Learning (SEL) activities last month. Students practiced looking at someone's face and body for clues about how they might be feeling. They each navigated through different cartoon pictures pointing out specific characteristics that made them believe the cartoon character was feeling a certain way.

Want to build your empathy muscle? Try becoming a Feelings Detective alongside your kiddos at home!

Director for the Day

Mentor Spotlight

Arkeivvia’s Story: A Journey of Resilience, Empowerment, and Parenting

Tue, 09 Apr 2024 20:01:39 GMT

In a world where challenges often define our paths, individuals like Arkeivvia Jackson stand out as symbols of resilience, empowerment, and the transformative impact of supportive environments. Arkeivvia’s story is a testament to her determination and the nurturing space that Team Up Mentoring helped cultivate, allowing her to flourish and inspire greatness.

Arkeivvia’s journey with Team Up began as a young participant at the age of 11. By the time she was 13, Arkeivvia began volunteering at Team Up’s inaugural summer camp, where she worked with 2nd graders as a small group leader. Her dedication and passion for making a difference continued to shine as she volunteered each summer, eventually earning a paid internship through the Workforce Investment Act (WIA) at the age of 16. As a high school junior, Arkeivvia graduated to a full mentorship role, leading the PreK group and inspiring younger participants with her resilience and determination.

Today, Arkevvia is a mother of four, balancing family responsibilities, a job and continuing her education. Just recently, Arkeivvia achieved a significant milestone by earning her Bachelor’s degree in business, a testament to her relentless pursuit of knowledge and personal growth. Her plans to further her education in early childhood education underscore her commitment to making a difference in the lives of young children.

Arkeivvia’s determination knows no bounds. With her education, she dreams of opening a daycare center for children. Through her hard work and dedication, Arkeivvia has become a beacon of hope for countless individuals, showcasing the power of pursuing goals despite the odds.

“Team Up helped me become a better parent. I understand what I need to do to help my children be as successful as they can be.”

Arkeivvia credits her time with Team Up for not only shaping her professional journey but also for helping her become the kind of parent she aspired to be. In a heartfelt video captured when she was 19, Arkeivvia expresses, “Team Up helped me become a better parent. I understand what I need to do to help my children be as successful as they can be.” This sentiment encapsulates the profound impact of mentorship on personal growth and parenting skills.

Arkeivvia’s journey is a testament to the nurturing environment created by Team Up Mentoring, where dreams are nurtured, and individuals are empowered to reach their full potential. Her story inspires us to believe in the power of mentorship, community support, and resilience in overcoming challenges and achieving greatness.

As Arkeivvia continues to pave the way for others and pursue her dreams of entrepreneurship and creating a nurturing daycare center, her legacy of resilience, empowerment, and exemplary parenting will continue to inspire generations to come. Arkeivvia Jackson is not just a success story; she is a beacon of hope and inspiration, showcasing the transformative impact of organizations like Team Up Mentoring in shaping brighter futures.

Student Life | Teamwork

Tue, 05 Mar 2024 15:04:16 GMT

Team Up Family News Issue 3

February was jam-packed with LOVE at Mentor Nights! Our elementary students learned about Supporting Each Other . Our teens have focused on learning Teamwork and Collaboration , talking about everything from ego-hangups to the power of strong communication.

One night, younger elementary students did a Challenge Sing-Along to demonstrate how to pay attention even when distracting things are happening around them, just like what happens in daily life.

Older elementary students worked together to create bridges to hold heavy objects from paper and other classroom resources. In this activity, they learned to make plans, learn from mistakes, improve their plans, and support each other. (Amazing, right?)

We all learned we can be more effective when we work together .

Our teens have had incredible discussions and activities proving that working together and coordinating is exponentially greater than everyone trying to do their own things. What a powerful reminder to us all!

We’ve leaned into Black History month with our teens, discussing stories like an unlikely community hero (Nipsey Hussle) and Emmet Till’s impact on the civil rights movement.

Experimenting with dry-ice was a teen STEAM highlight thanks to a generous local donor! The teens really enjoyed learning about this amazing substance that never reaches liquid form.

Family Life

Tue, 20 Feb 2024 15:04:14 GMT

Family News Issue 2

Everything we do works to serve our ultimate goal: Building resilience in kids and families living in Northeast Georgia. While youth mentoring is our most known service, did you know we also have dedicated staff to serve the whole family?

Our Family Life team oversees all services to support families who have experienced trauma. These families receive on-going guidance from case managers, creating future plans and connecting them with resources to see those plans realized. We believe that if caregivers are poured into, then children will benefit as well.

Over the last 2 years, the Family Life team has been working with one of our families who had been displaced from their own home. We’ve worked together with them over the entire journey, connecting this family with key education, resources, and guidance for important next steps. In January 2024, we celebrated big time when this family was able to move into their own house!

Today, we want to celebrate both this family’s resilience and the Family Life team’s dedication to keep showing up consistently for this family and so many others.

Staff Spotlight

Storybook 5K

Fri, 17 May 2019 00:00:00 GMT

Thank you to those helped to make the 2019 Storybook 5K a success! Click below to see photos, results and more!