iChoose: Empowering Young Adults To Make Healthy Decisions Through Intergenerational Mentorship

Through Intergenerational Mentorship

Since 2008, Search and Care’s iChoose program has helped guide teenagers at East Harlem’s Central Park East High School to a brighter future through intergenerational mentorship, discussion, and skill-building. Mentoring over 500 students since its launch, iChoose has equipped young adults with the skills, positive values, and confidence necessary to make healthy decisions now and in the future, helping them grow into confident and successful young women and men.

The program works by creating a safe space for students to have conversations about their concerns, feelings, and goals—while connecting them with mentors of all ages who can speak to a variety of different important life experiences, help them navigate a formative period of life, and provide guidance and inspiration for the future. During meetings throughout the year, iChoose addresses many impediments to teenagers’ success, both in school and beyond, while exploring valuable topics relevant to young adults’ future decisions and wellbeing. Each meeting concludes with mindfulness exercises led by a meditation instructor.

Mentors this last programmatic year included an turned award-winning pastor, artist, and human rights activist, who discussed his experience turning his life around after being incarcerated, and led a workshop on making good choices, finding your calling, and expressing yourself; Hunter College’s Project Archivist at the Center for Puerto Rican Studies, who held a workshop on finding purpose beyond college, social media, and smart choices; an honors college student who discussed short and long-term plans for getting into college and scholarship support; a Chair of an East Harlem Community Board, who discussed resilience and how to gain life experience; a meditation guide who taught skills proven to improve physical and mental health, empathy, attention, and happiness; and members of Search and Care’s staff, who led programs on safe sex, consent, healthy relationships, leadership and communication, and advocacy.