With Hope Our Lives Excel

In response to the requests and suggestions from Black boys and teens across the district to have Black representation, WHOLE Mentoring will provide 9th and 10th grade Black male students with culturally responsive mentorship. WHOLE, which stands for With Hope Our Lives Excel, is a mentoring program under the Office of African American Male Achievement. In support of our strategic plan, Seattle Excellence, the Office of African American Male Achievement is committed to unapologetically centering the social, emotional, and educational needs of Black boys and teens to ensure they graduate on time prepared for college, a career, and community participation.

WHOLE Mentoring is committed to integrating intentional care strategies that promote the authenticity of Black male students. With an immediate focus on 9th and 10th grade Black males, WHOLE Mentoring is designed to empower their identity (“WHO”) through affirming their Black excellence so they are academically, social-emotionally, physically, and college/career strong.

9th and 10th grade Black male students who participate in WHOLE Mentoring will be connected to culturally responsive mentors dedicated to encouraging them in their pursuits both in and out of the classroom.

WHOLE Mentoring mentees will:

• Develop a strong relationship with a non-parental adult dedicated to cultivating their brilliance and resilience while guiding them to live in the potential they possess.
• Create a network of Black male students and Black male adults to build a strong sense of belonging and develop community.
• Gain exposure to professional development opportunities to acquire new skills and learn about unique topics.

9th and 10th grade Black male students interested in joining, click here for more information: Student Application

If you are interested in joining as a mentor or volunteer program contributor, click here for more information: Contribute to WHOLE Mentoring

Contact Us

For any inquiries about WHOLE Mentoring, please reach out to AAMA Mentoring Program Coordinators Kelvin Dankwa (kadankwa@seattleschools.org) and/or William King (wrking@seattleschools.org).