Our mission is to guide high school students growing up in challenging urban environments to recognize and reach their full potential as  members of our community.  Through mentoring, young students are given the tools and support necessary to make positive choices during a critical period in their lives. We hope to expose these students to various academic studies and trades as a possible path after high school. We specifically target students during the high school years because it allows the student to be exposed to different career options and ability to change their high school experience to plan for the future career. Our students come from challenging communities, where the majority of families live below the poverty line.  The areas surrounding District 28 frequently suffer from greater levels of unemployment, high crime rates, and gang activity. Our programming takes place during critical "out-of-school" time: during the after-school hours, weekend hours, and summer break.

Our E.A.S.T Mentoriship Program presents opportunities for enrichment, exposure, support and guidance through supervised one-to-one relationships between high school students and caring adults.  The goal of the E.A.S.T Mentoriship Program is to empower mentees to develop into contributing members of our community, who will find ways give back when they are in a position to do so. Studies show that consistent encouragement, listening and role modeling can have a profound positive impact on a child’s life. For adults who are at the right time and place in their lives to make the commitment, becoming a E.A.S.T. Mentor will be an expansive, life- changing and ultimately rewarding experience.