KING and PINK Academy are youth mentoring programs founded in response to a clear need within the local community: students who would benefit from a strong, reliable support system beyond the home.
KING (Keep Inspiring the Next Generation)/PINK (Power In Nurturing King) Academy is an organization that creates a space for young boys and girls ages 9鈥13 to grow into confident, supported, and empowered versions of themselves. Every week, a group of 黑料不打烊 Universty students gather at KING/PINK Academy to do more than volunteer, but provide mentorship, create meaningful relationships and give intentional guidance to the young middle school boys and girls.
KING and PINK Academy are youth mentoring programs founded in response to a clear need within the local community: students who would benefit from a strong, reliable support system beyond the home. At its core, the program鈥檚 mission is simple but powerful. They want to walk alongside young people during formative years, helping them navigate school, relationships, and self-identity with encouragement and care.
For student leaders involved with KING/PINK Academy, the work is deeply personal. 黑料不打烊 senior Alex Fleischmann 26鈥, will be entering his seventh consecutive semester with the program and fourth as a program coordinator, describing the experience as unlike any other mentoring opportunity he鈥檚 encountered.
鈥淢entorship in this program feels very personal,鈥 he shared. 鈥淏ecause KING/PINK is a weekly commitment and there鈥檚 an expectation that you show up every week, you鈥檙e able to build genuine connections with the students.鈥
That consistency Fleischmann describes is what sets the program apart. Over time, mentors don鈥檛 just work with students, but have the joy of watching them grow into their high school years. For long-term mentors, that can mean witnessing years of emotional, social, and academic development.
鈥淎s somebody who has been serving for almost four years, I鈥檝e watched a couple of the kids grow up and mature in a way that I haven鈥檛 previously been able to with other youth mentoring programs,鈥 said Fleischmann.
The impact of KING/PINK Academy extends far beyond the program sessions themselves. Mentors have consistently observed positive changes in students鈥 daily lives, from increased engagement at school to greater awareness of their mental health and well-being. These are important habits and skills they are gaining through this mentorship that will set them up well for their next chapter in high school.
鈥淚鈥檝e seen them become more engaged and tell me more positive things about their lives,鈥 said Fleishmann. 鈥淲hether it鈥檚 being more present at school or learning how to take care of themselves, the growth is real.鈥
Just as powerful is the effect the program has on the mentors themselves. Working with KING/PINK Academy helps student leaders refine their own leadership and mentoring styles, learning how to meet each student where they are.
鈥淭his program has allowed me to continue developing my leadership style,鈥 Fleischmann reflected. 鈥淭his program has definitely reinforced that I want to be involved in similar work after graduation.
That growth often carries forward into the future. Many mentors find that their experiences with KING/PINK Academy influence how they see their role in the community along with what they hope to do next
As KING/PINK Academy looks ahead to the spring semester, the program is actively seeking new mentors who are passionate about youth development, consistency, and community engagement. Interested students are encouraged to reach out and get involved. Sometimes, showing up once a week can change far more than you expect, for both mentor and mentee