Thornhill Rites of Passage Foundation

BACKGROUND

Founded in 2016 by Attorney, Wayne Thornhill, and his wife Michelle, the Thornhill Rites of Passage Foundation is rooted in the value and “strategic parenting” approach they use to raise their two sons, and program cohorts, to deepen their knowledge in areas aligned with individual interests. Ensuring they had a yearlong Rites of Passage program when they turned twelve, the year-long program was the impetus for the Hūman Rites Of Passage Program (HūROP).

PROGRAMS OFFERED

The Thornhill Rites of Passage Foundation offers programs that provide a continuum for young men in grades 7-11 to gain core skills and experiences based on the Core4 , including peer mentoring and a paid

internship in field of interest.

CURRENT PROGRAMS

The HūMan rites of Passage ProgramTM (HūROP) is a twelve-month curriculum that targets 7th grade Black boys, and supports them through a set of monthly experiential sessions based on a holistic curriculum, engaged mentorship, outcome-focused initiatives, and heritage as a catalyst. The program culminates with a closing ceremony where the young men deliver a public speech in multiple languages and the fathers decree a blessing over their son.

The Hūman Leadership institute (HLI) is offered to alumni of HūROP as well as all young men in grades 8-9 that build upon the Core4. Participants join a brotherhood, build skills in wellness, money management, legal and civic engagement, entrepreneurship, and college preparedness, during four sessions annually, October through April.

PARTICIPANT BENEFITS

• Increased confidence, new experiences and life skills • Life-long brotherhood

• Expanded social network and social capital • Re-establish the right trajectory for themselves

• Positive racial identity

OUTCOMES

• 12 alumni with new HūROP 2020-2021 cohort of 9 young men

 • Nearly 40 Black male mentors – representing careers in law, financial services, STEM and entrepreneurship – dedicate their time and service

• Over $8,000 earned by participants as seed capital career interest

• 100% of young men have a mentor aligned to their 

• Families gain exposure to small businesses in community

ORGANIZATIONAL NEEDS

• Expanding programmatic reach 

• Operational support for full-time staff

• Build out of technology platform for virtual offerings 

• Sponsorship of young men for program(s)

FUNDING

• $45,000 provides laptops and add-on technology supplies for consistent engagement

• $30,000 provides program support that creates long-term sustainable change in a young man’s trajectory (10 participants per cohort at $3,000)

• $25,000 provides essentials for offsite sessions (Ex. college tour and culmination ceremony)