Metro United Way recently held a very special graduation where fifteen young men graduated from this year’s Rites of Passage program in a ceremony attended by their families. We invest in quality out-of-school time (OST) programs because they play a critical role in making sure our youth develop the skills needed for long-term achievement and wellbeing.

Rites of Passage is a program for middle and high school-aged boys that covers life skills and conflict management over a 20-week period of discussion and activities. The activities are designed to get youth out of the inner city and into the wilderness. Through fishing, camping and hunting, the boys learn the skills they need to be successful in school, work and life.

Thanks to the generosity of our community, this program created by our partner, 2NOT1 Fatherhood and Families, Inc., is free to students. Participation in OST programs has been linked to improved academic achievement, increased connectedness to school and community, better relationship skills and declines in negative, risk-taking behaviors.

By partnering with quality OST programs, we hope to help reduce the drop out rate and ensure more of our youth graduate high school on time and reach their full potential as contributing members of our community.

Congratulations to the Rites of Passage class of 2015!