Become a Success Coach

Targeted Coaching is the cornerstone of our work.

Project OneTen Volunteer Success Coaches are dedicated mentors and personal champions for our students, guiding them through the critical transition into high school. As a Success Coach, you’ll build a meaningful relationships with students, offering encouragement, guidance, and support as they navigate the challenges of their first year and the systemic barriers that boys of color in Chicago often face.

Through these relationships and our monthly programming, we create safe spaces for students to reflect, grow, and develop the skills they need to thrive not only in high school but in life as well. Success Coaches play a vital role in providing social and emotional support, all within a program designed to empower academic achievement and long-term success.

Have questions about becoming a Success Coach with Project OneTen? Join our first virtual recruitment information session, or schedule a 15-minute one-on-one call with Kayswanna McCoy, Emerging Leaders Program Manager, to chat directly about all the ins and outs of the program.

Meet Our Coaches

Project OneTen Coaches are:

Social justice oriented: understand the systemic issues in education and social norms and their impact on boys of color, specifically for high school readiness.

Optimistic: maintain a student-centered approach to support and develop student self-advocacy.

Open-minded: are willing to expand perspective by leaning into curiosity to increase understanding and empathy (including vulnerability and creativity in relationship building).

Adaptable: can be flexible to changing demands and can navigate ambiguity.

Accountable: take ownership of commitments and promises with consistent follow through.

What it takes to be a Success Coach.

Commit to coaching a student throughout the entire school year

Engage with your student monthly, either in person or virtually

Be a consistent advocate, championing your students growth

How Project OneTen Empowers and Supports Our Success Coaches.

  • Success Coaches participate in ongoing training sessions led by our program staff and partners, equipping them with the tools, strategies, and resources needed to effectively support students. These sessions ensure that coaches feel prepared, confident, and empowered to make a meaningful impact throughout the program year.

  • Project OneTen utilizes a research-based curriculum that emphasizes relationship-building and goal-setting, providing structured support for both Success Coaches and students. This approach ensures meaningful connections, fosters personal growth, and equips participants with the tools they need to thrive throughout the program.

  • Success Coaches are part of a supportive community, organized into pods that foster peer learning, collaborative problem-solving, and accountability. These small groups create a space for volunteers to share experiences, exchange insights, and support one another throughout their journey. This peer-driven learning is just as impactful as our formal training sessions, ensuring that every Success Coach feels equipped, connected, and empowered to make a lasting impact.

Join our Movement.

The Project OneTen Volunteer Success Coach application reopens this May! Sign up below to be the first to know and join a community committed to empowering young leaders and making a lasting impact.