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The Alumni Group, Incorporated Project Description The Alumni Group (T.A.G.) is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization. The group has been mentoring men for approximately 13 years. None of the staff, volunteers or officers is paid. In 2006 the group incorporated in order to operate as an official charity. Empowered by our own recovery and a vision of supporting the extended recovery of others, our mission is to mentor and provide transitional shelter for low-income, at- risk men who have recovered from their addictions but who need support in developing the life skills necessary to reunite with their families and become productive members of the community. T.A.G. President, Kent Henry, Vice President, Kenneth Thomas and Outreach coordinator, Javier Marrero are the leaders of the non-profit organization that is T.A.G. To accomplish our mission, T.A.G. has acquired its first home in the Chester area for transitional living. Each home will provide living space for three residents. Mentors, who will not live in the home, but who have developed the life skills needed for successful integration into their families and communities, will each be matched to a resident. T.A.G.’s philosophy of empowering men in transition differs from traditional halfway house approaches. Much of our philosophy can be gleaned from our website (www.alumnigroup.net). In brief, our approach derives from focusing on the spiritual, emotional, fiscal, educational and social development of each man in the context of becoming a strong, positive community member. Our philosophy is currently practiced at weekly recovery meetings led by several men who will become mentors. Much of these meetings entail interweaving the teachings of societal norms and personal life experiences. T.A.G. Members are eager to create the type of communal arrangement that many of them wished they had during a formative period of their own recoveries, and want to mentor those who are recovering and have recovered in a home-like setting. T.A.G. is finalizing the finer details of the mentoring relationship, which include selection and matching criteria and the “Exit Plan” that will serve as a basis for each relationship. In brief, the Exit Plan will include employment,education, financial savings and social goals established by the resident, who will be provided with the needed environment and social relationships to achieve these goals. Residents will “graduate from the program” when their goals are attained, mostly within 1-2 years. If you desire to follow-up with us, you can reach our President, Kent Henry at: 610-800-2994 or kent.henry@att.net. |
Our Inspiration This group is inspired and motivated to develop social productivity in men who have had problems with substance, abuse, through a plan of mentoring and housing provision. The Alumni Group will work with men who are in search of freedom from addiction in a substance abuse rehabilitation facility or recovery mission, have a revealed potential for successful recovery, and are moving into the transitional phase of their rehabilitation. We are dedicated to men who truly desire a total change of lifestyle, but need guidance developing the life and social skills necessary for such change. The human support and services we provide helps the person use and refine those skills. The goal is interdependence and productivity in “mainstream” life, and service to their community. |
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