[Archived] Alexandria Court Service Unit Seeks Mentors for At-Risk 6th Grade Boys

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: February 19, 2009

Mentors Team with Youth to Produce a Short Movie

The City of Alexandria’s Court Service Unit is seeking “a few good men” to serve as mentors for at-risk 6th grade boys. Male mentors are paired with youth in the iMovie Mentors program (iM2) to produce a short movie. No movie-making or mentoring experience is needed. An orientation for interested mentors will be held on Tuesday, March 17, from 5:30 to 8 p.m. in the library of the George Washington Middle School, 1005 Mount Vernon Ave. 

Individuals make a one-year commitment to the program and attend a weekly workshop with youth to establish a mentoring relationship, learn the fundamentals of filmmaking and help the boys acquire life and technological skills. The workshops will include the use of Apple technology and lessons in producing digital video, storyboarding and film editing. Workshops will be held on Tuesdays from 5:30 to 8 p.m. from April through November. Movies will debut at a community film festival.

The iM2 program, funded by a crime prevention grant from the Virginia Department of Criminal Justice Services, is part of the Alexandria Mentoring Partnership, a collaborative effort of 12 mentoring programs and the City of Alexandria.

Attendance at the orientation sessions and successful completion of a criminal background check are required for all mentors. To RSVP for the mentor orientation, e-mail linda.odell@alexandriava.gov. For more information on the program, visit the iM2 Web site at www.alexandriava.gov/iM2.