Newport News: Mentoring & Leadership Development

The Virginia Peninsula Chapter provides a variety of educational, informative and uplifting programs for the whole family. Our programs teach the necessary leadership and development skills to assist our mentees and their families in realizing and maximizing their full potential.

​Big Brothers Big Sisters makes meaningful, professionally supported matches between adult volunteers (“Bigs”) and children (“Littles”), ages 6 through young adulthood. We develop positive relationships that have a direct and lasting effect on the lives of youth in our communities.

Activities for youth ages 6-18. Education and Career Programs, Health & Life Skills, Character and Leadership Programs, Art Programs, Sports, Fitness and Recreation Programs

An instructional hub for STEM learning driven by team building and collaboration allowing opportunities for students and people of all ages, abilities, and disciplines to learn by designing creative solutions to real-world problems.

Teacher Professional Development Programs - Monthly machine training and curriculum design sessions
Student Fabrication Experiences - Aligned with industry certifications in partnership with community colleges
Community Nights - Family-friendly experiences offering “make and take” projects
Summer Camps and Saturday Workshops - Hands-on experiences with digital technology and machining
“Start Your Own Business” Workshops - Designing and prototyping an idea for future business opportunity
Digital Fabrication Badging Program - Encourage students to learn different skills and concepts
Shipyard Youth Mentoring Program - In conjunction with NNS’ educational outreach program SEEKnns

The Citizen Police Academy for Youth (CPAY) provides teenagers - ages 14 to 17 - an inside look at local law enforcement through a variety of subjects pertaining to police work. The youth are instructed by police officers, civilians, other city Department agencies and community partners.

Excellence Girls Club, Inc. empowers young girls. Introduces them to positive women and positive ideas. Unlocks their potential. Helps them grow. From promising young girls, into powerful young women.

The Literacy Lab’s Leading Men Fellowship creates opportunities for young men of color and increases representation in the field of education. Leading Men Fellows are young men of color who have recently graduated from high school and participate in a year-long, residency-style experience in which they provide evidence-based literacy support to pre-kindergarten students while receiving robust coaching and professional development and gaining valuable experience.

The Young Adult Police Commissioners program, or YAPC, provides a unique opportunity for the City's youth to learn about the police department and interact with officers. Members meet weekly to discuss current events and use their voices about issues that affect young people.

The YAPC consists of a freshman, sophomore, junior and senior from each high school in Newport News. Members have participated in a variety of activities, including field trips, community walks, City Council meetings, and more.

The Youth Leadership Program (YLP) provides a service-learning opportunity for youth, ages 13-17, who reside in the Southeast community of Newport News, Virginia. Community youth have to complete an application and interview process. Selected youth have the opportunity to assist staff with the facilitation of summer programs and services at one of the five Wickham Avenue Alliance sites.