Advancing Equity through Career-Focused Mentoring for Youth

"Through RAMP, I learned that no matter what kind of kid you are and what you like to do, there could be a good job for you.”

IEL’s Ready to Achieve Mentoring Program (RAMP), is being implemented across the country by state via local organizations with expertise in mentoring, youth development, juvenile justice, and disability. The RAMP model uses a combination of group, peer, and one-on-one mentoring to promote the successful transition of RAMP™ youth to employment, continued learning opportunities, and independent living.

Youth participate in weekly career preparation-focused group meetings, including peer-supported goal setting and exploration of careers in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM). Each youth meets regularly one-on-one with a mentor to develop and implement an Individualized Mentoring Plan (IMP). Mentors are caring adults recruited from the community, schools, employers, and partner organizations. Youths’ families, teachers, and support networks are engaged in career fairs, college visits, and extended learning activities. While in RAMP, youth have the opportunity to assess and explore their own career interests; develop a plan and set goals for their transition; create a resource map of their community’s high-tech industries; gain workplace soft skills; build resume-writing and interviewing skills; interact with employers and experience a variety of work settings; give and receive peer support; take advantage of group and personal leadership opportunities; design and build a high-tech-related team project, and most importantly… have fun!

This Giving Tuesday, please consider supporting our programs like RAMP to help youth create a brighter future for themselves!

Program Outcomes

Youth enrolled in the RAMP program see outcomes exceeding in program participation, academic, and juvenile justice performance goals. Some of these key outcomes include:

youth participation
0 %
completed the program
0 %
improved school attendance
0 %

Youth Spotlights

Take a look at some of the inspiring young leaders who have participated in RAMP:

Meet Terry

Baltimore

Meet Micah

Baltimore

Georgia

Learn more about RAMP:

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