Stand Up GuysYouth Mentor
Detroit, Michigan · Youth Ages 13–18

Show themanother way.

Mentorship can change a decision. Opportunity can change a direction. The right guidance can help change a life.

We don’t simply tell young men to make better choices. We build the relationships, skills, and access that help prepare them to make those choices.

Become a Founding Partner Explore the Program
Mentorship✦Financial Literacy✦Career Readiness✦Positive Exposure✦Mentorship✦Financial Literacy

Why Stand Up Guys

They don’t lack potential.

Too often, young people lack consistent guidance, practical preparation, positive exposure, and adults willing to understand what is really happening in their lives.

Violence, peer pressure, financial instability, limited opportunity, and negative influences can begin shaping what a young person believes is normal— and what he believes is possible.

We focus on the young person behind the behavior, the circumstances, and the labels.

Our Program

Four pillars.
One connected path.

Mentorship is the thread that connects every lesson to what participants are experiencing in real life.

01

Relationship + mindset

Mentorship & Critical Thinking

Trusted mentors help young men navigate pressure, conflict, accountability, goals, communication, and the consequences behind everyday choices.

02

Financial capability

Financial Literacy

Youth learn how money works in real life—from budgeting, banking, credit, and taxes to saving, investing, and entrepreneurship.

03

Economic mobility

Workforce & Career Readiness

Participants build résumés, practice interviews, strengthen professional communication, and explore trades, college, careers, and business ownership.

04

Possibility + access

Exposure & Opportunity

Visits, job shadowing, cultural experiences, and new environments expand what participants can see—and what they believe they can become.

Antonio Washington, Founder and Program Director of Stand Up Guys Youth Mentor
Founder & Program DirectorAntonio WashingtonBorn & raised in Detroit

Our Story

This mission is personal.

Born and raised in Detroit, Antonio Washington grew up witnessing environments shaped by violence, drugs, loss, and limited positive guidance.

His story did not end where it started. Antonio continued his education, earned his GED, and entered work supporting the development of young people. What he survived became a way to understand, reach, and guide young people facing many of the same pressures.

Connect with Stand Up Guys

Founding Leadership

Community experience at the table.

Founding Board Member · Community Strategy & Grassroots Organizing

Ellis Niqua Douglas

Ellis Niqua Douglas brings nonprofit and grassroots organizing skills to Stand Up Guys, helping strengthen community partnerships, public engagement, and relationships with families, funders, and aligned organizations. This leadership helps keep the program connected to the voices and needs of the Detroit community it serves.

Mission + Vision

Plant the seed.
Build the path.

A trusted relationship can help a young person see beyond the pressure of today and begin building toward what comes next.

Our Mission

Inspire. Guide. Empower. Transform.

Stand Up Guys exists to inspire, guide, empower, and transform young people through trusted mentorship, critical-thinking development, financial literacy, workforce preparation, and positive life experiences.

We build meaningful one-on-one relationships with youth who may feel misunderstood or lack consistent guidance, helping them recognize their potential, make stronger decisions, and develop practical life skills.

Our Vision

A generation prepared to build.

We envision a future where young people have access to the guidance, knowledge, opportunity, and positive relationships needed to build productive and purposeful lives.

The long-term goal is to develop confident, responsible, financially informed, career-ready young men who eventually become mentors and positive examples for the generation that follows.

The Stand Up Guys Path

The relationship is the thread.

01

Mentorship

Changes how they think.

02

Financial Literacy

Teaches them how to manage resources.

03

Career Readiness

Teaches them how to earn and build.

04

Exposure

Shows them what they can become.

First Semester Pilot

Small enough for trust.
Structured enough to measure.

A relationship-centered Detroit pilot designed to give every participant meaningful attention, practical learning, and a clear next step.

13–18Participant ages
15Planning cohort target
16Approximate weeks
2×Weekly sessions
Hour One

Reset & Refresh

Food, decompression, mentor conversation, check-ins, connection, and homework support where appropriate.

Hour Two

Learn

Structured lessons in critical thinking, financial literacy, leadership, communication, and workforce preparation.

Hour Three

Apply

Mentor meetings, budgeting, goal setting, career research, résumés, role-playing, and individual action plans.

Impact + Accountability

Measure more than attendance.

Stand Up Guys will build its impact story from evidence—not unsupported claims.

01

Mentor Relationships

Consistency, mentor matches, trusted-adult connection, and participant feedback.

02

Critical Thinking

Decision-making, consequences, conflict response, problem solving, and goal setting.

03

Financial Literacy

Practical knowledge of budgeting, banking, credit, debt, saving, and financial goals.

04

Career Readiness

Career exploration, résumés, mock interviews, professional skills, and next-step planning.

05

Exposure

Career visits, college and trade exposure, employer experiences, and new interests.

06

Engagement & Direction

Attendance, retention, goals, program completion, youth feedback, and family feedback.

Honest from day one.

Because the first cohort has not yet been completed, Stand Up Guys will not claim results that have not been measured.

Founding Semester Opportunity

Help build the first cohort the right way.

The current working first-semester budget is approximately $25,000.

Founder / Program Director Compensation$7,000
Meals & Refreshments$3,200
Transportation & Exposure Experiences$3,500
Curriculum & Youth Program Supplies$2,500
Youth Certifications & Participant Support$2,000
Mentor Screening & Training$1,500
Insurance & Compliance$1,500
Facility, Technology & Administration$2,000
Impact Measurement & Evaluation$800
Program Contingency$1,000
Total Working Semester Budget$25,000
$1,000

Youth Sponsor

Make a substantial investment toward one participant’s semester experience.

$5,000

Cohort Support

Support participant programming and the shared infrastructure behind it.

$10,000

Impact Partner

Provide major support toward direct programming, exposure, and operations.

$25,000

Founding Semester Partner

Help underwrite the complete working first-semester budget.

Partnership

We don’t only need funding.
We need door openers.

Organizations can support Stand Up Guys through the resources, expertise, industry access, and relationships they already hold.

01

Fund

Support the first semester and the infrastructure required to deliver it responsibly.

02

Teach

Share financial knowledge, career expertise, entrepreneurship, trades, leadership, or practical skills.

03

Mentor

Provide qualified adults willing to complete screening, training, and youth-safety requirements.

04

Expose

Open your company, trade, college, training center, profession, or organization.

05

Employ

Create job-shadowing, internships, apprenticeships, and employment pathways when age appropriate.

06

Equip

Provide transportation, meals, technology, clothing, supplies, space, or professional services.

For Parents & Guardians

Help us understand the child before the challenge.

Complete the confidential parent intake and child assessment so mentors can understand your child’s strengths, experiences, behavior patterns, safety needs, and the goals that matter most to your family.

Start the Google Form →Download the PDF

Frequently Asked

Clear answers.
Honest expectations.

Have a question that isn’t covered here? Call or email Antonio directly.

Call 734-770-0807
Who will the first cohort serve?

The planned Detroit pilot is designed for young men ages 13–18. Enrollment details, referral partners, and the final launch calendar will be announced as the founding semester is funded and organized.

Is Stand Up Guys accepting mentors?

Stand Up Guys welcomes mentor interest. Anyone working directly with youth will be expected to complete screening, training, and all program safety requirements before being matched with a participant.

What does a founding partnership support?

Funding supports the complete first-semester experience: staffing, meals, transportation, exposure visits, curriculum, participant support, mentor screening, insurance, facilities, technology, administration, and evaluation.

How will impact be measured?

The pilot will track participation, retention, mentor connection, practical knowledge, career preparation, exposure experiences, youth goals, and youth and family feedback. Stand Up Guys will report measured results—not estimates presented as outcomes.

Are contributions tax deductible?

Stand Up Guys is still developing its formal organizational and charitable structure. Tax-deductible status should not be assumed unless it is separately confirmed in writing before a contribution is made.

Show them another way

One partnership can open the next door.

We welcome serious conversations with funders, employers, mentors, schools, trades, colleges, banks, transportation providers, and community organizations.

Email Stand Up Guys734-770-0807