Building Community - J Groups
The JourneyMen Groups
Following a boy’s journey through the Rites of Passage Adventure Weekend (RPAW), he is considered no longer to be a boy, but to be a JourneyMan or JMan. This is a symbolic recognition that he has begun a pro-active journey from boyhood into manhood.
The ongoing mentoring program at Journeymen uses group meetings, called JourneyMan Groups or JGroups, for mentors and JourneyMen to interact for a year following the initiation weekend. Journeymen creates an environment in which positive male role modeling can take place over a long term. Participants learn about accountability, integrity, personal responsibility, honest communication, connection to feeling, and about the importance of discovering a sense of personal mission in the world.
The mentoring model followed by the Journeymen program does not automatically assign Mentors to JMen. It is within a group environment that appropriately closer Mentor/JMan relationships are allowed to develop. All Mentors have been subjected to state and national criminal background checks.
The annual JGroup schedule involves meeting regularly every other week with special additional quarterly meetings throughout the year. Mentors are asked to provide transportation for the JMen to and from the meetings.
JGroups can be classified either as an “In” meeting or an “Out” meeting…
“In” meetings are focused on integrating the life-skill concepts and tools that were introduced during their Rites of Passage Adventure Weekend (RPAW). Through listening to the JMen and modeling healthy communication techniques. Mentors assist the JMen in preparing for living lives as men of honor. These meetings are generally held in an environment that provides little outside distractions and is a safe place for the JMen to open up and share about the issues that are important to them.
“Out” meetings are focused on continuing to develop the bond of trust between the JMen and the Mentors and is fostered in a FUN setting. Outings can include indoor rock-climbing, lazer-tag, model rocket building, bowling, etc. The goal is to allow everyone to just be kids and be in touch with the value of “play.”
“In” and “Out” meetings are alternated throughout the year.
Once a year has passed, the JMen can elect to continue up until their 18th birthday at which time they are ceremonially recognized as men. To continue on, the young man must pass a background check and be willing to participate as a mentor.