FLU's 3rd Wednesday Workshops originally started as a Youth Advisory Committee workshop series in conjunction with the Orange County, Florida Government’s Children, and Family Services - Community Action Division’s Community Action Centers at the Pine Hills location. It was established to advise the center on its programming and bring valuable youth perspectives to the center. Advising for programs through shared decision-making to transform and create positive change in Orange County. Creating free youth-driven programming through workshops, training, and community outreach focuses on topics such as but not limited to financial literacy, drug/violence prevention, job preparedness, Health and Wellness, the importance of voter education, and the importance of knowing our rights. The students on this committee seek to learn new things to help teach them to their fellow youth of the community. The FLU's 3rd Wednesday Workshops is a stand-alone initiative fully funded and operated by the United Foundation of Central Florida’s Future Leaders United After-School Enrichment and Mentoring Program.

In Partnership With

DJJ Youth P.O.W.E.R. Program

The Positive Outreach, Wellness, & Enrichment Resources Program is a community-based intervention strategy that seeks to reduce gun violence within the Pine Hills Community. Developed by the Central Florida Urban League, the Department of Juvenile Justice, and the United Foundation of Central Florida, Inc., utilizing partnerships between between faith leaders, members of the community, law enforcement, non-profit organizations, social service providers and local government entities. The effort is focused on breaking the cycle of gun violence behavior exhibited by specific individuals within the community through community intervention and resource management, coupled with ongoing enforcement efforts from the law enforcement partners.

In Partnership With

Honoring Our Heroes

Some people say heroes are those people who are more than human. They are faster, stronger, and have some unique gifts. Others say they are ordinary people who do extraordinary things. We are asking you to tell us about your hero. Tell us what makes a person a hero. Why are they heroes? And what your hero has done for you? Please remember this is a contest, and it's your time to let your hero shine.

In Partnership With

T.E.A.M. Mentoring Program

Team Mentoring is a youth mentoring program under the auspice of the United Foundation of Central Florida, Inc., a 501 C3 nonprofit organization in Central Florida.

The Acronym Team Stands for Together Each Achieve More.

A motto we practice daily. Team Mentoring provides local community mentoring role models to children ages 4 to 24 during Elementary, Middle, and High School and after-school hours. We at Team Mentoring have encountered several mentees who have had a mentor officially or unofficially, and the majority felt their mentor cared about them and invested their time and efforts in seeing him or her succeed. Research has proven that quality mentoring relationships have powerful, positive, and long-lasting effects on young people in various ways. Various studies have shown that 50 to 60% are more likely to enroll in college. 75 to 80% are more likely to volunteer regularly. 85 to 90% are interested in becoming a mentor, and 120 to 130% are more likely to hold leadership positions.

Our Volunteer Mentors undergo a United Foundation of Central Florida questionnaire screening process by logging on to www.unitedfoundationcf.org and an additional Addition screening through Orange County Public School or www.ocps.net. We have a mentoring agreement signed by both the Mentor and the Mentee, which is strictly adhered to. There are three self-assessment evaluations built in with Team Mentoring Partners checking in. We strongly encourage meeting the parents and guardians to build trust and family participation. Team Mentoring focuses on the 5C’s of Youth Development. The 5 C’s are a general framework highlighting the critical areas all young people need to develop. Incidentally, this framework provides the opportunity for both mentors and mentees to grow. The 5 C’s are:

Competence – Positive view of one’s actions in specific areas, including social, academic, cognitive, and vocational.
Confidence – The internal sense of overall positive self-worth, self-efficacy, identity, and belief in the future.
Connection – Positive bonds with people and Institutions, peers, family, school, and community—in which both parties contribute to the relationship.
Character – Respect for societal and cultural rules, possession of standards for correct behaviors, a sense of right and wrong (morality), spirituality, and integrity.
Caring and Compassion – A sense of sympathy and empathy for others.