What is Environmental Awareness?
Environmental awareness teaches at-risk youth to identify and address the factors shaping their surroundings, including neighborhood dynamics, gang and violence influences, and systemic barriers. By fostering understanding and promoting positive mindsets, the program equips participants with tools for redirection and meaningful change in their lives and communities.
Program Components:
Real-Life Mentorship & Intervention
Men and women with firsthand experience in the justice system engage with youth through video calls, in-person visits, and phone calls to juvenile facilities, schools (5th–12th grade), and group homes. Mentors share the realities of incarceration, the consequences of poor choices, and pathways to redemption, helping young people recognize alternative opportunities for success and avoid risky behaviors, including substance use and violent activityEnvironmental Awareness & Social Responsibility
Youth learn how their immediate environment, including neighborhood conditions, peer networks, and local resources affects choices related to violence, substance abuse, and overall well-being. The program teaches how safe, supportive spaces and community engagement reduce exposure to crime and addictive behaviors. Participants also explore sustainability, environmental justice, and the role of healthy environments in shaping opportunities, emphasizing that positive environmental stewardship promotes safer, more resilient communities.Navigating Modern Life Challenges
Through discussions and workshops, mentors address key generational struggles such as social media influence, peer pressure, economic hardship, systemic injustice, mental health, and access to resources. Participants gain practical strategies to manage these challenges, resist substance use, avoid violent behaviors, and create pathways to break free from cycles of crime, poverty, and incarceration.
The R.O.Y.A.L. Mentoring Group's Reach Back Mentorship Initiative is a transformative initiative designed to equip at-risk youth with the tools, resources, and guidance needed to navigate today’s challenges and resolve conflicts effectively. Through 1-on-1 and group mentoring in homes, schools, and juvenile facilities, this program fosters brotherhood, builds trust, and provides the support young men need to make better decisions and avoid life-altering consequences.
Aligned with the principles of the Juvenile Justice Reform Act of 2019, our program supports efforts to:
Divert youth from the juvenile justice system.
Use risk and needs assessments to guide case planning.
Reduce reliance on detention for non-violent offenders.
Implement research-based practices for probation and supervision.
By helping youth understand the realities of their environments and teaching alternative approaches to conflict resolution, we inspire them to channel their energy toward a brighter future. While we cannot save every child, our unwavering mission is to change the narrative, reduce youth violence, and create lasting, positive impacts in the lives of those we serve.
