Project SOAR News

Project SOAR is the McGaw YMCA’s youth mentoring program. On this page, you will find the most up to date news about what’s happening with Project SOAR.

News and Updates

Jacob White was a Project SOAR mentor from 2005 – 2009. Jacob has mentored the same child all 4 years and was a true role model. Since graduating, he has joined the Peace Corps and went to study at Oxford. Click here to read more about his great experience as a mentor.

What was your mentoring experience like while you were at Northwestern University?

Mentoring was without a doubt the best thing about my experience outside the classroom at Northwestern University (NU). I joined fall quarter of my freshman year and mentored right until I graduated. I mentored the same kid for all four years. We basically grew up together during that time, I from being a teenager to an adult, and my mentee from a child to a young man. Too many funny stories to tell, though my favorite experience would always be us going swimming at the YMCA.

What was the best thing about mentoring? What was the hardest thing?

The best thing about mentoring was getting to know my mentee! Though about as different as two Americans on paper can be, we became very close. Sue Sowle (social workers for Project SOAR) did a good job matching us, we have similar personalities. I think of him as a little brother now and we still stay in touch. The hardest, dealing with some behavioral issues, fights with other kids, tantrums, etc. But once my mentee got older those stopped.

Tell us about your Peace Corps experience, where and what did you do?

I joined the Peace Corps right after I graduated from NU in Spring of 2009. I was sent to the Dominican Republic as a Youth Development Volunteer. I was assigned to the small town of Nagua, where I mainly taught English.

Has your mentoring experience helped you at all in what you do today?

Mentoring was the best training for working with kids in any country! Kids are the same no matter where you go. Just learning how to be strict with kids, how to see things from their perspectives given their stages of development, you can only get that from experience.

What have your learned since leaving NU?

I guess since I’ve left NU, most of what I’ve learned has just been from maturing and seeing more of the world. Mainly, that though the social problems we face in the US are important, things in the US are still very good. You have to maintain an optimistic outlook. I certainly do miss NU and the YMCA.

Tell us about the scholarship, what is it? How did it feel when you heard you won the scholarship? What does it mean to you?

I have been awarded the Marshall Scholarship to study at the University of Oxford. I heard about it in the news media sometime ago. Northwestern’s Office of Fellowships also is a great resource. It is a great opportunity and I am very excited!

Do you have any advice, or information, you would like to share?

Just how grateful I am to have such a great opportunity! Also how thankful I am to Sue and everyone at the YMCA for supporting me and helping me for all four years!

Wow! Wonder of Wonders!

90 Matches! The most ever and the most interviews with NU men ever. The Fall SOAR Kick-off has been the most worry-free start of any SOAR year. Don’t get the wrong message, though, because it was still good hard work. We’ve had great years in the past, but Sue and Mary Jon want to give a lot of the credit to SOAR’s 2011-12 NU Executive Committee, Aubree, Matt, Alex, Shawnee, Lauren and Zewi. This committee is always at work and coming up with great ideas for the program.

Parents and Guardians we appreciate your trust and the support you are giving to your child. Mentors, thank you for honoring your commitment toward the special youth who is in your care for a few hours each week. You are helping to create memories that will stay with your youth all through life. Remember it is the simple things that count; a positive word, listening, taking a walk, playing Frisbee at the park, or just showing up to watch a Mentee’s game.

To all the kids, thanks for just being you and giving your mentor a chance to know you.

Project SOAR Events

Fourth Annual Starbucks Gift Event

Last Wednesday evening (December 21), around 20 Starbucks and McGaw YMCA staff and volunteers gathered at the McGaw YMCA to serve over 70 families at the 4th Annual Starbucks Community Gift Drive. With 2 presents given out per child, per family, over 350 children will receive gifts this holiday season through this community event.

Click here to see more events

Training and Match Reception Weekend

Training and Match Reception Weekend was a success.We have manynew faces this year so remember to have your Mentor-Mentee photo taken by Mary Jon when you are at the Y or at the next SOAR event. Did you see our SOAR window? Alex arranged for us to Paint the Town Purple. We had a great sunny day to paint Shawnee’s idea and Mary Jon’s design on Whole Foods’ window. Several mentees helped paint and earned the community service hours that qualify them to go to Camp Echo Weekend in May.

Ice Cream Social and NU Homecoming Parade

Ice Cream Social and NU Homecoming Parade on October 22nd was a new and very fun event. Probably 50 mentors, mentees and some families participated. After the parade we all enjoyed ice cream and a social time with board games, table games, music and conversation. Let’s do it again next year! THE SOAR Bowling Trip on November 5 required 10 lanes to allow 55 people the chance to try for a strike or just to try to keep the ball out of the gutter. SOAR Game Night in Norris Underground was a great opportunity to hang out and it was FREE to SOAR matches…thanks Matt!

Volleyball at the Y

Alex arranged a volleyball night, 7:00 to 8:00pm in the YMCA gym, Friday night, November 11. This may become a regular event, let us know if you love volleyball.

Thanksgiving Dinner at the Y

The Thanksgiving Dinner is always a highlight of the Mentoring Year and took place on Saturday, November 19. Mentors and mentees came to help cook, decorate and play. It was enjoyable to watch the mentors and mentees working together to cook and create this feast. We love bringing all the families together.

New Mentoring Groups

SOAR has two new groups mentoring our Evanston youth. We are happy to announce a partnership with Second Baptist Men’s Group. This program has already interviewed 13 men and created five matches consisting of two mentors to one mentee. We are excited that this very new concept and pilot program is off to such a promising start.

Credit goes to Aubree Anderson for the next group. Aubree contacted PhD programs at Northwestern and the response was quite a surprise when six candidates came forward, completed training and are now matched and mentoring. Thanks to SOAR’s doctoral candidates for adding this to their student life.

Looking Forward

Winter is Coming

Check the calendar and plan to attend the winter group activities that include Skiing, Cookie bake, Game Nights at the Y & Norris.

Winter also means the Northwestern Students go home for some well deserved rest and recreation. After Thanksgiving the students will be cramming for exams. Before they head home for the holidays (Dec. 9) make your January plans. They return to class on January 2nd.

Project SOAR Calendar