Lets Rap about mentoring

Since our inception, Lets Rap has been totally focused on mentoring youth by applying life skills in academics and atheletics.

What do we mean by that? We have found that the disciplines learned in athletics can be applied in the classroom and vice-versa. Learning to be disciplned on the court comes easy for some kids, but they sometimes fail to apply that skill in the classroom. Some kids are natural leaders on the court, but fail make that transition in school.

This is where our programming help youth realize that what they are learning in sports, can also be applied in the classroom and in life. The mentors we provide are experienced mentors and are models in their communities, having served as mentors throughout their careers.

Curtis Bell

Founder/Mentor

Often known as the mentor of mentors, have over 20 years experience mentoring youth and recruiting other professionals to be mentors. Curtis is no stranger to mentoring. His background in mentoring programs spans more than 25 years. He led the corporate mentoring programs at Fortune 500 companies for 18 years and transformed it into a marquee program for the companies and its employees. That program, in partnership with the Minneapolis STEP-UP Business Partners program, offered summer interns a mentor and an opportunity to be exposed to the business world through mentoring activities and relationship building. Curtis spent another 6 years as a mentor in the Jack and Jill Rights of Passage program, and 8 years recruiting mentors for the IS explorers mentoring program.

Now he has joined forces with Darlene Bell and the Minneapolis Cares Mentoring movement, our impact will expand throughout the twin cities. You will hear more about that joint venture in the near future.

Vision:

Our vision is to mentor young people to be socially responsible and to experience life to their fullest potential.

Mission:

Preparing and mentoring young people for successful entry to higher education.
Helping young people live healthy and socially responsible lives.
Through the application of sports, helping them transfer team skills to life skills and vice versa.

Core beliefs:

Mentoring can reduce the disparities and other barriers faced by athletes to achieve success in the classroom, on the field, and in society.
Mentoring Programs and relationships are most likely to promote positive outcomes and avoid harm when they are close, consistent, and enduring.