Kulula Mentoring Program

The Kulula Mentoring Program is an evidence-based program for enhancing the ethnic identity and socialization skills of Black youth. Kulula, a Swahili word meaning to "excel" or "achieve," is a culturally enriched mentoring program for elementary and middle school students in the Greater Miami-Dade area. Overall, Kulula seeks to increase self-efficacy, leadership skills, and community involvement, improve decision-making, coping, and problem-solving, increase connection to school and academic performance, and increase awareness of and pride in participants' African heritage. The program utilizes elements of best practice models in mentoring, leadership development, personal health and wellness, and community engagement to connect University of Miami students to the surrounding community by providing weekly, on-going support to children in the community. Currently, Kulula is being implemented in the Coconut Grove area, a historic and predominately Black community in Miami-Dade. The Kulula program curriculum has also been incorporated into existing summer youth programs in the Miami-Dade area.