AMP METRO RICHMOND
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Mission Statement
AMP! Metro Richmond is a vibrant mentoring program in the Richmond Region where adults and youth meet weekly to share interests, learn from each other, and “amplify” their perspectives on what can be as they develop their friendship.
About This Cause
Originating in 2006, AMP! is a school-based program with mentors from Richmond corporations, government, and small businesses who provide support, friendship, reinforcement, and a constructive example to middle school students. Currently, AMP! collaborates with the administration of T.C. Boushall Middle School in Richmond’s Southside neighborhood. AMP!’s mission is to connect students and mentors to expand student perspectives. Our program goals are to create self-confidence, stimulate learning, and encourage career discovery for middle school youth. AMP!’s vision is a Richmond Region where all youth believe they can achieve. The AMP! Approach: Mentoring through AMP! is based on the belief that everyone has strenghts and those strengths can be accessed and reinforced through the gift of caring and listening. AMP!’s mentors are busy professionals, neighbors, and university students who meet weekly on a pre-set schedule with their mentees at Boushall Middle School. Prior to being matched with a mentee, our volunteers agree to a background check, are trained by MENTOR Virginia, and attend an orientation to our program and the school. AMP! mentoring is relationship-based rather than following a structured curriculum and often takes place while playing games or simply by sharing interests. About AMP! Mentors and Mentees: Students at Boushall Middle School apply to be part of AMP! by completing a written application and providing signed parent/guardian consent. Students chosen for AMP! have a history of satisfactory school attendance and class participation. If accepted, the student is paired with an AMP! mentor based on gender and similar interests. Mentoring takes place at Boushall on Tuesdays during the lunch hour. We typically recruit our volunteer mentors from Genworth, the University of Richmond, Virginia Commonwealth University, and MENTOR Virginia, as well as other small businesses, nonprofits, and government agencies. Both our mentors and mentees often say, “Mentoring is the best part of their week.” AMP!’s Past and Future: AMP! opened in 2006 in Highland Park’s Chandler Middle School. We moved to Henderson Middle School in 2009, and then to Boushall Middle School in 2018, continuing our tradition of providing one-to-one mentoring and career programming. AMP! incorporated as a 501 (c) 3 nonprofit organization in 2007 and is operated by an all volunteer board. We completed Quality Based Membership through MENTOR Virginia in 2015. In 2020, when COVID hit, we were one of the first programs in the area to pivot to virtual mentoring, and helped pave the way for other programs to do the same. In 2021, we also recieved our Disability Mentoring Certification so that we can continue to work to be more inclusive. We are proud to maintain a level of 25-30 mentoring relationships per semester and hope to grow through the generous support of volunteers and our partners.