• Success in life is never guaranteed. 

• Whether it’s having a successful career, enjoying successful relationships, financial success, etc., the fact of the matter is that it’s never really assured. 

• Research has shown there are a number of core competencies needed for youth to develop into successful, productive adults:

  • Including having a social conscience (e.g., helping others, ensuring people are treated fairly).

  • Possessing a set of personal values (e.g., doing what’s right, telling the truth).

  • Caring (e.g., displaying empathy, having no tolerance for people being bullied).

  • Utilizing critical thinking methods to solve problems; and having good decision-making capabilities.. 

• Access to positive role models throughout one’s life is essential.

•  Role models can have a significant impact on a person’s growth and development, and benefit society through promoting the adoption of socially acceptable behaviors and standards. 

• Role models can also play a considerable part when it comes to adolescents making career choices. 

• They can be especially influential when they present early on in the process to ensure they get off on the right foot as well as helping them realize professional success. 

• The impact a family member can have on a child’s ability to become a leader can be extremely significant. 

• Studies suggest that this type of influence on what leadership means is not limited to childhood, and has a long-lasting impact throughout an individual's career and lifetime.

Even when a child is brought up in an exceptional environment, offering all of the advantages typically deemed necessary to increase their odds for success and leadership potential, this doesn’t always have the desired results.  But what about children that haven’t had these types of opportunities?  Are they starting at even more of a disadvantage?  In what ways have THEY been positioned to succeed?

• The formation of Teach Me To Fish is an initial attempt to help youngsters located in the North Portland community of Kenton to address any shortfalls that stand in the way of them becoming responsible, successful adults.

• Kenton was chosen due to our team’s current familiarity with this neighborhood, and our plan is to expand our footprint beyond this locality in near future.