About The Advantage Program
The Advantage Program is a nonprofit geared to expose the youth to life’s many opportunities. Founded in September of 2020 by Tavon Parker, we offer mentorship programs, adult courses, a summer program, and different community events that cater to the needs of the youth in all aspects. Our goal is to enrich the holistic life of a child by focusing on their risk factors and protective factors, and then bridging the gap to ensuring their overall success.
Our overall goal is to expose our youth to different life opportunities as well as multiple career paths. The program hopes to be able to provide necessary school items during the school year as well as a scholarship to college. By helping each youth to create a plan for their lives and identifying possible career paths and opportunities, we believe we can keep each child focused on positivity and achieving their goals.
Mentorship Programs
Our Male Mentorship Program was started in June 2021. Our Female Mentorship Program was started in August 2023. Mentors and mentees meet weekly on Saturdays for a two-hour time period (2 hours for girls and 2 hours for boys, separately). During these sessions the curriculum includes topics such as entrepreneurship, financial literacy, civil engagement, culinary arts, athletics, and business principles, etc. Once per month, we expose participating youth to an event or venue outside of York County such as, HBCU’s, NASA, music concerts, college sporting events, historic museums, and other professional sporting events. Other tutoring & homework help services are available for mentees as we aim to provide academic support in addition to our mentorship services.
Events
- Gala
- Started in February 2022
- Christmas Party
- Started in December 2022
- I Have A Dream Conference
- Started in January 2023
- Reformed Felons Symposium
- Started in April 2023
- Family Field Day
- Started in April 2024
- Alumni Basketball Game
- Started in June 2024
Adult Course
Our Adult Course was started in January 2024. This course is an opportunity for adults to expand their minds and position themselves to Change The Narrative. The focus of this course is to increase knowledge because the more we learn, the more knowledge and information we can pass to the generations coming after us.
Summer Program
Our Summer Program was started in June 2023. This is a summer program like no other because we focus on reducing the summer slump. Participants get the opportunity to learn from local teachers and entrepreneurs, attend field trips, network with others from the community, build pro-social relationships, and engage in their very own entrepreneurial activities.
Scholarships
In Partnership with the William Penn Senior High School Basketball teams, we offer academic scholarships. Our goal is to support the staple high school in York City by offering scholarships to both the male and female basketball team players with the highest overall GPA.
Our Vision
To keep young men and young women out of the Justice System.
Our Mission
To provide our youth with guidance and give them an ADVANTAGE.
Advantage Program: In The News
York County Bar Foundation Grant Recipient
We would like to extend a huge THANK YOU to the York County (PA) Bar Association/York County Bar Foundation for awarding us funds from the Henry Lenz Fund!
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This grant will help us with transportation and program costs! 2023 will be a great year and partnerships like this help us to keep the youth OUT of the judicial system!!!
York-East "Dreams Big" with a Community Project
Since 1987, The Rotary Club of York-East has had a long history of supporting our local and international communities. In celebration of our 35th Anniversary Year and in conjunction with Rotary International’s “Imagine” Theme, York-East undertook a “Dream Big” Community Project to award $10,000 to a local cause. The club sought out Dream BIG project ideas from members and looking for local organizations to support. The club members heard from several well deserving grant applicants and choose the Advantage Program because it’s sustainability and impact on the youth in our local community. The Advantage Program is a youth mentorship program geared to expose middle and high school aged children to life’s opportunities. Mentors and mentees meet weekly on Saturday’s for a two-hour time period. During these sessions the curriculum includes topics such as entrepreneurship, financial literacy, civil engagement, culinary arts, athletics, and business principles. Once per month, the Advantage Program aims to expose participating youth to an event or venue outside of York County such as, HBCU’s, NASA, music concerts, college sporting events, historic museums, and other professional sporting events. The overall goal of the Advantage Program is to expose our youth to different life opportunities as well as multiple career paths. The program hopes to be able to provide necessary school items during the school year as well as a scholarship to college. By helping each youth to create a plan for their lives and identifying possible career paths and opportunities, they believe they can keep each student focused on positivity and achieving their goals.
Picture left to right: Karen Comery - Club President, Kate Rohrbaugh, Tavon Parker, Brandon Parker, Elizabeth Wolfe - Club President Elect, Greg Kern - Committee Chair.
Source: https://rotary7390.org/Stories/york-east-dreams-big-with-a-community-project
MLK Day in York: A time to educate
Thumbs up to The Advantage Program for taking the lead on a substantive and educational program to commemorate Martin Luther King Jr. Day.
The “I Have a Dream Conference,” planned for Monday, Jan. 16, will provide six hours of engaging instruction on issues including bullying and navigating social media for children and adults alike.
The Advantage Program has long provided youth mentorship programs for those between the ages of 7 and 17 in York. Program founder and CEO Tavon Parker said he saw an opportunity for a special MLK event in the city.
Read More Here: https://www.yorkdispatch.com/story/opinion/editorials/2023/01/12/mlk-day-in-york-a-time-to-educate/69801949007/
York celebrates Martin Luther King Jr. Day with community event
YORK, Pa. (WHTM) — On Monday, Jan. 16, York celebrated Martin Luther King Jr. Day with its first-ever “I Have a Dream” conference.
“I love Martin Luther King Day because we get to represent him,” said a child at the conference.
The “I Have a Dream” conference was formed by the Advantage Program, and it represents more than just a celebration of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
Read More Here: https://www.abc27.com/local-news/york-celebrates-martin-luther-king-jr-day-with-community-event/
York County man's mentorship program aims to inspire young men
YORK COUNTY, Pa. — The Advantage Program of York is a youth mentorship program, geared towards exposing middle and high school students to different life opportunities.
"We started two years ago [in] 2020, we started with 12 kids and quickly, we grew to over 60 kids in our second year. That's something you can never plan for, but it goes to our proof of concept," said Tavon Parker, the CEO and founder of The Advantage Program.
Read more here: https://www.fox43.com/article/news/local/york-county-mans-mentorship-program-aims-inspire-young-men/521-05c16811-4d7f-43ea-a5f6-eac8ac52278e
The Advantage Program provides mentoring, life experience
From left, Calvin Jones, 13, Robert Berry, 12, Eric'zi Spellman, 14, mentor Soji Otuyelu, of Spring Garden Township, Christian Trostle, 17, Noah Patterson, 13, and Savontae Copeland, 12, look on as mentor Jordan Boatwright, of York City, discusses the influence of music as members of The Advantage Program meet at the community center on Kelly Drive in York City, Saturday, Aug. 21, 2021. The program, which began in June, currently offers mentorship to about 13 disadvantaged students with the goal of broadening their perspectives and encouraging them to set and achieve future goals. Educational opportunities are offered within York County as well as trips to other areas, such as Philadelphia.
Read more here: https://www.yorkdispatch.com/picture-gallery/news/2021/08/21/advantage-program-provides-mentoring-life-experience/8230575002/
'Somebody looking out for us': Program gives younger Yorkers a boost
Though Christian Trostle grew up without a father, he’s recently gained a few new male role models in his life looking out for him.
Trostle, alongside his brothers Noah and Micah, joined the Advantage Program — a nonprofit started by Tavon Parker designed to teach underprivileged kids valuable skills and expose them to life outside of York County.
“It’s great because I don’t really have many mentors,” Trostle said. “It’s good to have somebody looking out for us.”
Read more here: https://www.yorkdispatch.com/story/news/local/2021/08/28/somebody-looking-out-us-program-gives-yorks-young-people-boost/8168343002/
Give An Advantage!
Your support and contributions will allow us to continue working towards our main goals to:
- Provide Mentorship & Advocacy
- Provide Exposure
- Create a Sustainable Life Plan
We are a 501c3 Nonprofit organization and your donation is tax-deductible.