Community Ambassadors Partners with CBS Connects Mentoring Program

In a highly competitive grant process, the Parma Area Chamber of Commerce (PACC) was awarded $118,995.62 by the State of Ohio for the “CBS Connects” initiative.

The purpose of this grant is to assist faith-based organizations, the business community, and the local school district in developing programs that build hope in their students and families. High levels of hope and hopefulness have been proven to be strong predictors of one’s belief that one can accomplish one’s goal.

The funding received will be used to coordinate a mentoring program, called CBS Connects, between students in the Parma City Schools and adult volunteers from the community. The grant will be used to support a collaboration of the Chamber, the Community/Business/Schools Partnership, Community Ambassadors, and the Parma City Schools to provide mentors for district students.

Through this partnership, the goal is to develop a program that achieves the following targets in students:

1. Setting goals to be prepared for 21st Century careers
2. Building character
3. Developing pathways to achievement
4. Building resiliency
5. Believing in a positive future

Each of these desired outcomes is central to long-term student personal and academic success.

“Our mission is to empower youth to overcome obstacles and succeed in education, careers, and life,” said Dave Nedrich, CEO of the Parma Area Chamber of Commerce. “Together we will develop a volunteer network to provide students with access to role models who can help motivate and inspire them, as well as help them develop skills that lead to success in school and the workplace.”

The grant will be used to fund the coordination of matching volunteers with students and to set up activities to support this mission. The Community/Business/Schools Partnership has been involved with mentoring initiatives over the years, but this collaboration was recognized by the state for its potential to be successful and to be used as a model for other communities. The mentors will be able to help youth to set goals to be prepared for 21st century careers, build character, develop pathways to achievement, build resiliency, and believe in a positive future. More information will be shared as the program moves forward.