PACT's Purpose

PACT's Purpose is to provide opportunity for economically disadvantaged people and youth who are plagued by violence and substance abuse in their homes and communities, through economical empowerment and by improving their educational skills, values, and self-esteem.

PACT's Mission as included on our letterhead:

Positive Alternative Choices Today: mentored work, learning, fun and play to empower at-risk youth.

PACT's Current Mentoring Operations

PACT is unique in all the land. We have a Work Ethics Education program (WE) that, until now, has not only been our basic source of financial support, it is the vehicle of our innovative manner of adult mentoring of Westside LA at-risk boys and girls.

PACT's Middle School apprentice workers learn responsiblity and the rewards of work: income, recreation, and education. They build self-esteem. They meet and present themselves to all manner of adults. This work is the key element of PACT's acculturation. They are traveled to and see how successful people live in the Los Angles area.

Of the over 900 kids who have been in PACT, only one has been sent to Juvenile Hall. One spent a night in jail. One was on probation. Three were lost to street life and/or gangs. That's a 99% positive record! (PACT has its own internal "justice system.")

The unique combination of mentored work with the other elements of the PACT program --- and the fact that it is this work that has supported PACT for over ten years --- is behind our letters of encouragement from the President and First Lady (1998), Gov. Pete Wilson (1998), Gov. Gray Davis (2000), Mayor Richard Riordan (1999) and Mayor James Hahn (2002).

More info...

We all like to help kids, but until PACT's Work Mentor Program began in 1994, there were few options for most of us on LA's Westside to volunteer the 10-20 hours of our time that it can take every week. Much as we'd like to, we just can't afford to take that much "time out" to help.

Now some of us can. Whenever PACT has openings, each one of you with time to commit, and the urge to help, can be as generous with your time as you like, as one of PACT's "paid volunteers". (That's what we call our hard working Work Mentors.)

Volunteers elsewhere, typically, contribute their time on a once a week, once a month, often sporadic, basis. To consistently mentor kids more than once a week, adults in today's world must be paid enough to usefully supplement their basic income.

Work with PACT is flexible. Pick the days you want to work, early weekday evenings or almost any time weekends. We pick the kids for you to be with, three hours at a stretch. You are an independent contractor, paid commissions weekly based on work assignments.

You can change the days you've scheduled from week to week. Even day-by-day, as long as you let us know weekdays by 3:00 p.m. that day you've signed up to work. (By 3:00 p.m. Friday if you are working that weekend.)

PACT's mentoring isn't really work work - but you are paid! You are outside walking and talking with our youngsters, coaching them, enlightening them, introducing them to the world you'd like to see them acculturated to.

It does take time but this mentoring is unlike any work you've ever done before - yet all the while, at your convenience, you earn the supplemental income you need (up to $35/hour in commisions). This unique opportunity keeps mentors with us year after year.

In whatever part of the week you can devote, you will be doubly rewarded: psychically as well as financially.

In addition there are the fun, community service and educational activities we encourage you to indulge in with our kids - at no expense to you.

QUALIFICATIONS: Mature, upbeat, like kids, a positive role model, skilled with people, want to make a difference, some college education preferred. Must have a driver's license, insured car and social security card. Also critical: three strong references, each will be checked, plus you'll be fingerprinted. (You will be working with our youngsters, so we are careful.)

Call for a personal half-hour screening interview at PACT. Ask to see our video. Fax or e-mail us your resume, if you have one (optional). You can be a PACT paid work mentor within one week when we have openings.

Voice: 310.915.5310 24/7

Fax: 310.313.2899

E-mail:mentors@pactla.org



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