This article is one of a series of articles produced by Word in Black through support provided by the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative. Word In Black is a collaborative of 10 Black-owned media outlets across the country.
By Aaron Allen, The Seattle Medium
For over 14 years, Project M.I.S.T.E.R. (Male Involvement & Service to Encourage Responsibility) has been transforming the lives of at-risk youth in Seattle Public Schools through mentorship, life skills education, and guidance. Run by The Breakfast Group, a non-profit organization of civic-minded African American professionals, the program’s success at the high school level is now paving the way for expansion to middle schools, with a vision to reach even more young men at earlier stages in their development.
“Our program is centered around building career skills,” said Amani Harris, President of the Breakfast Group’s Board of Directors. “We are focused on making sure that we get our young people career-certified and connected to major employment opportunities employers are creating.”
According to Shawn Armour, Executive Director of the program, Project M.I.S.T.E.R. is designed to address the unique challenges faced by young African American men by pairing them with relatable mentors—known as talent builders—who share life experiences and inspire students to see, believe, and achieve their full potential.
“The past 14 years Project M.I.S.T.E.R. has been in the Seattle Public Schools, operating in six schools,” said Shawn Armour, Executive Director of the program. “We’re there to provide life skills, education, employment opportunities, and really challenge youth to be personally responsible about their brand.”
The program—which currently operates in Garfield, Franklin, Cleveland, Rainier Beach, and Roosevelt High Schools, as well as the Rainier Valley Leadership Academy, a charter school—provides students with tools to thrive academically and professionally while emphasizing personal responsibility and community stewardship.
The curriculum, developed by The Breakfast Group and titled Life Skills—Education, Employment, Personal Responsibility, covers a broad range of topics essential to student success, including goal setting, fatherhood responsibilities, financial planning, health education, and the consequences of poor choices. The focus is on preparing students not just for academic achievement but also for the challenges of adulthood.
“A Breakfast Group-sponsored instructor is provided at each school site to teach daily classes based on our curriculum,” Harris explained. “Representation is key to our success. With mentors and facilitators who look like the students and can relate to their experiences, we’ve seen tremendous outcomes.”
Each year, Project M.I.S.T.E.R. serves approximately 100 students, holding them to high expectations and fostering a sense of accountability. The program’s impact is evident in the paths its graduates take: many go on to attend four-year universities, vocational and technical schools, or community colleges. No matter what route they take, The Breakfast Group remains a pillar of support for these young men as they pursue their goals.
“We have witnessed this success through our Project M.I.S.T.E.R. graduates,” Armour said. “Some continue on to four-year universities, some to technical or vocational schools, and others to community colleges. The Breakfast Group stands by the students as a pillar of support.”
Students who complete the program are celebrated at the annual Tie-One-On Luncheon, a signature event that honors participants’ achievements and recognizes the diverse cohort of students served by The Breakfast Group’s various initiatives.
“Each year, the Project M.I.S.T.E.R. program serves over 100 students,” Harris said. “Then we have the Tie-One-On Luncheon, which honors and serves even more students from that program within that event.”
Albert Li, a junior at Roosevelt High School, is appreciative of the opportunity to be a part of the program because it opened up opportunities and his eyes to the possibilities.
“Programs like this are important because it helps us as Black students connect with our community,” says Li. “It helps us get information about our options after graduation. Without this program, I don’t think I would have had a number of opportunities that I’ve experienced [as a participant in the program].”
Fellow Roosevelt student Saddam Abdulrahman, who joined the program as a freshman, explains how the program opens up doors of possibilities and helps young Black students navigate their goals and dreams.
“This program opened my eyes,” says Abdulrahman. “The program is good because it gives us a pathway to reach our goals and dreams and inspires us on what you want to be in life and what you want to do in life.”
The program’s proven success at the high school level has highlighted the importance of reaching students at younger ages. Plans to expand to elementary and middle schools, like Thorndike Elementary School, are already in motion, with the aim of providing early mentorship and life skills education to better prepare students for the challenges of high school and beyond.
“We are visualizing this program as something scalable, that can reach every elementary, middle, and high school in the city,” Harris said. “We believe early intervention is key to long-term success.”
Project M.I.S.T.E.R. also emphasizes community involvement. Monthly “Thankful Thursday” breakfasts invite families, educators, and community members to gather, share ideas, and support the program’s mission.
“We invite the community to come in and have breakfast with us,” Armour said. “That’s why we’re called The Breakfast Group—so that we can, as a community, break bread and build for the future of our community and our children.”
According to Harris, Project M.I.S.T.E.R. reflects The Breakfast Group’s core belief that education is the cornerstone of success and that equitable educational opportunities can transform lives. The program recently launched additional resources to expand its reach, including an online platform, keepRG.org, which provides career certification tools and resources for students.
“Anyone can go to the website right now and use the certification tools,” Harris said. “It’s designed to help students visualize their goals and take the first steps toward achieving them.”
Mentors, who volunteer weekly during the school year, provide students with guidance and motivation while sharing personal experiences that make success feel attainable.
“Collective achievement is why programs such as Project M.I.S.T.E.R. are important,” Armour said. “Students having a guiding figure whom they can relate to provides confidence—‘Hey, my dreams are attainable. He is doing what I want to do, and he looks like me!’”
The mentorship, stewardship, and resources provided by Project M.I.S.T.E.R. have inspired countless students, families, and educators to rally around the program. Its expansion to middle schools will ensure that even more young men in Seattle can benefit from its life-changing impact.
“We are here to see our youth and families achieve at the highest level in education and economic opportunities,” Armour said.
Source: Seattle Medium
