exalt inspires youth at all junctures along the spectrum of criminal justice involvement to take ownership over their own development and provides the necessary prerequisites for them to be successful in other educational settings and workforce programs.
What exalt does
- Pre-Internship Training: Cohorts of 15 participants per cycle are selected from partner sources (e.g., defense attorneys, alternative to detention/incarceration programs, Department of Probation, foster care agencies, peers, etc.) and attend a five-week class, which runs Monday through Thursday, two hours per day in the after school hours building skills in critical thinking, communication, creative problem solving and resource management.
- Internships: Participants who complete the five-week training interview for and work in paid internships for three months. Individually tailored internships are developed to match youths' interests, maturity levels, and experience.
- Post-Internship/Alumni Skill Development & Support Services: After they complete internships, participants attend alumni seminars regularly for the next six months. Participants review critical skills learned during the training component and link their learning from internships to concrete next steps for advancing their education and pursuing additional goals.
Why Blue Ridge Supports exalt
By providing concrete training, tailored internships and ongoing support in a high-expectations environment, exalt has the possibility:
- To demonstrate effective ways of working with young people who have not been successful in traditional settings
- To help youth with difficult pasts develop tangible and positive visions for their adulthoods
- To put young people on track to invest in their own development through education and professional skill-building
