Mari talks about her
experience as a CBO Scholar:
One-on-one coaching is the Heart of CBO
CBO coaching is about supporting a scholar through a 6 plus year relationship built on trust.
CBO coaches work with young people from underserved environments, which can affect their sense of identity and goals. These young people usually have few role models for success. This affects the student’s ability to picture his/her life or future in a positive way. A large part of a coach’s role will be to motivate students to create a vision for themselves so they can take charge of their lives and develop their potential.
A Coach will:
• Meet (face-to-face) with your CBO scholar while he/she is in high school at least 12 times a year. Four or more of these will be CBO sponsored events (museums, sporting events etc.)
• Communicate regularly (via phone or email) with their scholar.
• Communicate with the scholar’s parents four to five times a year.
• Provide assistance in order for the scholar to meet his/her educational goals
• Oversee the college application process and help in determining the best college fit.
• Take scholar and family to college orientation to facilitate a smooth transition.
• Be an advocate for the student while they are at college and in finding summer jobs.
• Coach the scholar on interviewing and finding a productive career.
Benefits Coaches Offer Scholars:
• Help focus on the future
• Help achieve potential by encouraging them to see the options available to them
• Increase self-esteem, self-actualization, assertiveness, confidence, creativity, pride and self-advocacy
• Encourage emotional and social growth
• Encourage healthy risk taking
• Stress value of a lifelong commitment to education and learning
Example of activities CBO does with scholars:
• Visit museums
• Attend a sports events, movies, concerts, plays
• Exchange e-mails
• Invite scholar to dinner at their home
• Get involved in a community action projects
• Show scholar how to write resumes, thank you notes
