Registration now open for Huntsville’s ‘Male Mentorship Program’

HUNTSVILLE Ala (WHNT) — In a world where conversation concerning men’s mental health and emotions is lacking, the City of Huntsville is working to create a program that changes the norm.

The program is called the “male mentorship experience,” and it pairs young men in the community with an older mentor to share experiences and learn life skills.

Huntsville Parks and Recreation Director James Gossett says the opportunities the program provides for these young men doesn’t just better things at the individual level.

“As young men, you learn how to process feelings and communicate them in a safe environment,” said Gossett. “And so we provide that for them to do that, but we also know that providing these types of experiences to a wide range of people, our community, will build a better community.”

The program is designed for males ages 7-16. The men who sign up can expect to experience a variety of events, such as taekwondo and rock climbing, while also learning basic life skills like tying a tie and proper table etiquette.

Gossett says they are looking for volunteers to serve as mentors.

“They’ll be there to interact with the young men and share their experiences and some of the things they’ve gone through in their life and how they dealt with it, and so I actually think it is kind of a win-win for both groups involved,” said Gossett.

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Malik and Michael Louis are two twins who joined the program last year. They said the program pushed them to try new things.

“I think it was a great experience and opened me up to a whole lot of things that I haven’t done before, like a soccer game. I never been to a soccer game or a basketball game,” said Malik Louis.

This year, the twins are looking to learn even more.

“I was hoping to have interview skills,” said Michael Louis.

They also hope their friends will join them in signing up this year.

Gosset said that their hope in creating an experience like this one is that they create a lasting effect on the young men.

“Whether it’s in the Huntsville community or wherever they wind up, that they will be able to rely on that, and some of the experiences they’ve had and some of the knowledge they have gained, and it will be able to benefit them down the road,” said Gossett.

You can register online here and sign up to be a mentor or mentee.

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