C4K is a grassroots nonprofit that equips Charlottesville and Albemarle County youth (6th – 12th grade) from low-income households with 21st-century STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) skills to be competitive in college and careers. To do so, we provide mentoring in a creative, safe, and supportive out-of-school learning environment, access to professional-grade technology, project-based learning, and youth leadership opportunities. At C4K, youth learn by participating in:

  • 1:1 mentoring with trained, volunteer mentors
  • Group mentoring and self-directed drop-ins at the C4K Clubhouse
  • Expert-led workshops that provide training in STEM skills that are in-demand in Charlottesville’s quickly growing tech industry
  • Exposure to local tech careers through job shadowing, field trips, and guest speakers, all helping youth understand how the skills they are learning at C4K make them qualified for living wage STEM careers.
  • Access to resources through The Clubhouse Network, a program of the Museum of Science, Boston in collaboration with the MIT Media Lab.

Through our latest Youth Impact Survey, youth members report increased proficiency in STEM skills. Responses also indicate that C4K is a place where members feel a meaningful sense of belonging. 100% of C4K members said they felt their mentors accepted them, and 100% felt they could trust their mentors.

Did you know... 1 in 3 young people will grow up without a mentor. You can change that number. 

WHY MENTOR? Mentoring, at its core, guarantees young people that there is someone who cares about them, assures them they are not alone in dealing with day-to-day challenges, and makes them feel like they matter. Research confirms that quality mentoring relationships have powerful positive effects on young people in a variety of personal, academic, and professional situations. Ultimately, mentoring connects a young person to personal growth and development, and social and economic opportunity. Yet one in three young people will grow up without this critical asset.

MENTORING AT C4K: Not a tech expert? Not a problem! C4K mentors learn shoulder-to-shoulder with our youth members. Successful volunteers vary in age, background, interests, and skills. The best mentors are caring adults who are curious to learn and grow alongside local youth. Mentors may be UVA students, professionals, educators, designers, scientists, or retired people from our community. 

During the first year of their C4K membership, youth members engage 1:1 with a trained volunteer mentor. They commit to weekly one-hour sessions, for a minimum of 36 hours. During that time, each member works with their mentor to create two complex technology projects. In the last six months, the most popular activities completed during mentoring sessions included engineering, electronics, 3D modeling tools, and art, with members and mentors spending over 350 hours together at C4K on these projects alone.

Learn more about becoming a mentor at our sponsor link.