About Team Issachar
Thanks for your interest in Team Issachar (TI). Team Issachar Mentors understand that mentoring is an extremely important and challenging commitment. Team Issachar’s mentors encourage boys middle school and above to “RISE…Because they can!!!” As mentors, we can have a direct impact on the self-esteem and healthy growth of our youth.
Team Issachar’s History
In April, 2011 the Men’s ministry of Mount Zion Baptist Church of Seattle WA accepted a challenge to be “men of action”, like the biblical “Men of Issachar” (ref. 1 Chronicles 12:32), by taking on leadership roles that would develop young boys in our communities. This group of men held a series of planning sessions dedicated to developing a mentoring program to address the issues causing our community’s youth. This mentoring program is focused on 10-13 year old young men because:
* This period in a young man’s life, typically launches the beginning of significant physical, psychological and social transitions between childhood and adulthood.
* The choices they make during this period impact the rest of their lives. Many of our youth can often be prevented from being led astray by introducing them to consistent positive influences.
* Statistical evidence indicates the highest level of initial police-involved delinquency occurs at ages 14 -18 years old. In most cases, the seeds of these destructive courses took roots at the earlier ages of 11-13 years old.
Team Issachar held its first session in January 2013 and conducted the first annual “Rites of Passage” ceremony in January 2014!
Team Issachar’s Mission
Team Issachar’s mission is to enrich, strengthen and develop the moral, ethical and social character of our young men through
(1) “Group mentoring” of a multi-faceted curriculum each Saturday morning throughout the year and
(2) TI’s “village network”. This network is a collaborative partnership of community agencies, organizations and programs that encircle our young men with guidance, support, security and encouragement.
Team Issachar’s Village Partners
Team Issachar’s village network partnership was intentionally incorporated in our program to allow us to broaden our range of resources and strengthen our program without duplicating efforts already available in our community.
Mount Zion Baptist Church Youth Centric, SPC
Mentoring Northwest Atlantic Street Center
Seattle Police Department Seattle Police Guild
Red Tailed Hawks Flying Club UW Center for Experiential Learning and Diversity
Team Issachar’s Program Goals:
Upon completion, each participant will have
- Demonstrated the importance of “High standards”, “Respect”, “Priorities” and “Self-confidence”
- Articulated in writing
His educational goals,
His career interests,
His citizenship commitment
These achievements will effectively serve as a roadmap toward his successful future.
Team Issachar’s Mentors:
Our mentoring team has a variety of backgrounds, expertise, skill sets and career exposure that offers a network of services and resources to our youth and families. The age range of our mentoring team allows some to keep up with the more active and athletic youth members while our more seasoned members provide sage wisdom, guidance and experience.
Anthony “Tony” Benjamin, Ret. Seattle Seahawks, Entrepreneur
Eugene Cash – Ret. Educator Admin
Shandy Cobane – Seattle Police Department
Leonard Elion – Ret. Marketing, Team Issachar Program Coordinator
Chase Fuller – Marketing
Michaeljohn Green – Finance
Robert “Bob” Haynes – Ret. Bank Administration & Finance
Edward Lanier- Finance
Patrick McCain –Finance
James Womack – Attorney
Neil Kanungo – Science & Technology
We extended our mentoring role by creating a School Visitation Team where several of our retired mentors strive to visits each student’s school to meet their school administrators and teachers to let them know that we care about their academics and support our parents by serving as advocates on their behalf.