What we do

Our Model

Volunteer Mentors are the foundation of Rally Club Seattle

We take a collaborative, group approach and empower mentors with opportunities and resources to support building lasting, positive relationships.

Creating Connections, Building Community

We have a vision of creating a supportive community to surround youth throughout middle school and beyond. One that includes, youth, mentors, families, as well as teachers, coaches, and other caring people. Through our programming we focus on creating or strengthening several types of connection

Mentor/Mentee Connection

We are committed to building strong mentorship relationships with teenagers that will help them navigate the challenges of adolescence and move forward successfully in life.

5ED53BA2-3725-42B8-B325-2BF4D924CB1D_edi

Mentor community connections

We encourage community between mentors and many mentors are friends outside of Rally Club! We provide regular meet-up opportunities in addition to time spent in the group program.

Peer connections

Our program is designed to provide a fun and engaging space where youth can connect with peers as well as mentors. Our goal is to foster a positive environment where teens feel safe to share their feelings and get the support they need.

Family connections

We believe that family engagement is key to a young person's success We keep families well-informed and work together to support youth. Our approach is designed to break down barriers and create a supportive, inclusive environment for all.

Mentors support and empower participants

Commitment

Mentors commit to spending time with youth in our afterschool program once a week for at least one year. Many mentors commit to more than that!

Individual Support

Our mentors get to know the children, parents, and teachers to celebrate strengths, and seek opportunities for development. Emphasis is on personal as well as academic growth

Encouragement

Mentors cheer for accomplishments large and small, from making a sports team, pushing through a challenge, or sending an email to a teacher advocating for themselves. We believe that teenagers can achieve anything they set their mind to.

Current Programming:

Afterschool Program

Our Afterschool Program is our primary offering. Mentors focus on getting to know youth and Rally Club provides a variety of activities to promote bonding and teambuilding, individualized academic support, and that youth and mentors enjoy. The focus is less on what the activity is, but that youth participate, are engaged, encouraged, and feel an overwhelming sense of welcoming and belonging.

Field Trips/New Experiences

We organize trips to unique destinations and facilitate hands-on learning opportunities. Youth expand horizons and enjoy time with peers and mentors.

Coming soon:

A new "lunch bunch" programming for 5th graders at select feeder elementary schools. Our goal is to begin a connection that will carry over to middle school and beyond!

Family Events

We offer various activities throughout the year that promote community involvement and strengthen the relationships between parents, children, and mentors.

Why we choose teens and tweens:

Although it takes more time and effort to engage a tween or teen as compared to a younger child, once engaged you are more likely to maintain that engagement into high school. The approach and needs may differ, but the trust and relationship will be built and can be leveraged to encourage good choices and a caring accountability throughout high school or even beyond.

Middle school can be a difficult and lonely time. Feelings of worthlessness and inadequacy over their grades, social status with peers, or family life can have a major effect on how a teen feels. Having a caring community of support behind a youth at this age can have a profound positive impact.

The tween and teen year can often be challenging times for kids to relate to their families. They want to be independent, but aren't always ready and they often challenge authority. A mentor is cross between an authority figure and a friend. Studies show that kids with mentors have better relationships with their parents.

We really enjoy adolescents! They can be sweet and silly like a younger child, but are old enough to talk about and tackle tough things. And they keep it real!