E-mentoring program connects busy professionals with Philadelphia’s young black men

Some black professional men will use technology to improve the lives of Philadelphia’s young black men.  Today the United Way of Southeastern Pennsylvania announced a $490,000 Knight Foundation grant will power a new e-mentoring program.In addition to those old-school in-person meetings, participants in the e-mentoring program will use email, chat rooms and computer conference systems.  Anthony Martin is with the Urban Youth Racing School, “Guys of this magnitude, because they’re so busy, they don’t have the time that say a regular joe would have you know to spend time with a mentee,” said Martin.  “We believe that once this has shown to work, this will be implemented throughout the country.”This will be the first mentoring program in the region to use technology to conduct web-based training, communication and engagement, particularly with a focus on the young African-American male population.

United Way of Southeastern Pennsylvania will provide technical support to develop and manage the e-mentoring program.

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