At a meeting of Soroptimist International of Parsons, members heard from guest speakers Mandy Monroy and Lee Reliford, who shared the mission and life-changing impact of the Reach One Teach One Foundation and its Second Chance Education initiative.
Monroy and Reliford, co-founders of the organization, recognized a critical need in the community: many individuals, especially youth, lacked support systems to complete their high school education and receive essential mentoring. Out of that need, the Reach One Teach One Foundation was created. It is a nonprofit organization dedicated to helping teens and young adults get back on track academically, emotionally and socially.
Since its inception about a year ago, the organization has grown to provide suicide prevention resources, employability skills workshops and mentorship programs. Monroy is a certified QPR Institute trainer. The QPR Institute’s mission is to save lives and reduce suicidal behaviors by providing innovative, practical and proven suicide prevention training. Their QPR services have made a significant impact already, with eight documented lives saved through intervention efforts. With suicide affecting an estimated 135 individuals for each life lost, these efforts represent a deep and far-reaching positive effect on the community.
Another initiative under the Reach One Teach One umbrella is Save Our Sons, a program focused on connecting young men with positive male role models. The goal is to guide youth toward resilience, success, positive choices, and meaningful personal development. A similar program designed to empower young women is currently in development.
Their latest effort, Project Impact, brings together community members and youth to complete community service projects. Earlier this month, they kicked off their first project by partnering with the Parsons Recreation Commission to help prepare the municipal pool for opening day. Volunteers painted, worked in flower beds and completed other improvement projects to demonstrate the power of collaboration and community pride.
