At Phenix Legacy peer mentoring is the foundation for all we do.  We strive to promote advancement in three key program areas:
​

• Personal
• Professional
• Academic

Personal Advancement:
To reinforce support for veterans and their families, and increase the utilization of available government and community-based services, Phenix Legacy has developed a Service Member Engagement Program. This program offers advancement opportunities for service members, in an approachable setting, to learn about available services.  Further, and of most import, is the mentoring provided during these sessions; which include best practices, lessons learned, and efficient communication strategies that can be leveraged to result in successful interactions. This program is uniquely designed to serve as an effective tool for the outreach, delivery, and engagement of every service member we connect with. ​ Below is a list of our initiatives and events that are available to service members and their families... 
​

• Phenix Legacy Coffee Hour

Every Tuesday at the Jesse Brown VA,  Post 9/11 veterans are welcome to meet for coffee and pastries. During these weekly sessions, Phenix Legacy provides mentorship and support in addition to employment readiness assistance, linkage to VA, local, state and federal  benefits, referrals for mental health assistance and other services that promote empowerment, self-reliance, and independence. Best of all veterans are able to meet with each other and talk about what is going on in their lives. There is no predesignated agenda, just great people and treats!

• One on One Peer Mentoring

No one understands the sacrifice of a veteran or first responders better than someone who has worn the uniform. Peer mentoring is a strategy for individuals with like experiences to gather, share, and explore ways to positively transform their lives. This approach allows for an open dialog, in a safe environment, about the goals they seek to achieve and the barriers preventing their achievement. Additionally, our approach challenges each individual to make attainable, SMART goals that will lead them on their desired path. Peer Support Specialist are trained to encourage recovery and enhance the quality of life by providing a sense of hope and teaching new adaptive ways to thrive.

• Golf

Phenix Legacy and world-renowned trick shot artist, Peter Longo have partnered up to bring,  Phenix Legacy: Camp LiberTee 3-day golf clinic. This FREE clinic is for registered military veterans and first responders of all golfing experience, ability, and injury levels. This clinic brings peers together creating camaraderie in the open outdoors free from alcohol. So if you are a pro, proficient at getting the ball into the bunker, or anything in between this camp is for you.

• T.O.C.

Anyone in the military knows that all things important happen in the T.O.C (Tactical Operation Center). The same holds true for Phenix Legacy’s T.O.C, which stands for Trusting Our Community. T.O.C. is a Chicago mobile peer mentor concept. Trained mentors host meetings in predesignated areas of the community.  At times, there may be no pre-assigned topics, just a meetup area for warriors, first responders, and family members to gather and enjoy the camaraderie. Although our concept of peer mentoring may sound simple, the precise execution and delivery of our peer mentoring initiative is the reason why it has had such a life changing impact for many of our first responders, veterans, and their families.

• Baby Brigade  

The Baby Brigade parenting curriculum, developed by ZERO TO THREE, is a psycho-educational support group for Veteran parents who have very young children. Phenix Legacy staff are trained facilitators and are currently working with the Jesse Brown VA to offer meetups to Chicagoland area families.  

The goals of the Baby Brigade program are to help Veterans and their partners to (1) feel supported in caring for their young children, (2) feel connected to other Veteran parents and community-based resources, (3) consider ways of further promoting their children’s emotional wellness, and (4) strengthen their own self-care and wellness. Baby Brigade is compatible with the Strengthening Families Protective Factors Framework and works to promote parental resilience, social connections, knowledge of parenting and child development, and social-emotional competence of children.

Professional Advancement :
We understand that transitions to the workforce can be difficult. With that understanding, we meet with the service member and establish S.M.A.R.T. goals to increase the success rate of reaching those goal. Additionally, we assist with resume development, mock interviews, and providing opportunities for service members to meet and speak with other service members in the field they are trying to enter. In addition to the mentioned professional advancement services, you can find other initiatives we have/will have below...

• Phenix Legacy: TechOp (Coming Soon)

TechOp Program was developed & implemented to promote a foundation of mentorship that reflects an empowerment standard to our service members. Under this standard, Phenix Legacy first addresses the initial need of guidance & support that those who are transitioning from service occupations are experiencing, then provides an assortment of academic, professional, and/or personal services that support the individual’s goals and address the obstacles to empowerment in the Tech industry. Service members (military, first responders and their families) attending the Phenix Legacy: TechOp program will obtain introductory, foundational and immersive enablement on emerging trends in the tech industry. This program, designed with key checkpoints, such as monthly meetups, mentorship roadmaps, and resource facilitation, will benefit the participants, providing them with information necessary to pursue further skills in areas such as data science, machine learning, artificial intelligence and more. Phenix Legacy:TechOp program establishes a group of 7-10 service members to include men and women in the armed forces, police, fire, and ems fields. Additionally, they can be active duty, veteran, have an injured status, and their families may participate as well. The groups would meet at Phenix Legacy's main office in Chicago, IL or a predesignated location in Schaumburg, IL or Elgin, IL for 2-3 hours each meeting with additional hours spent on assignments, follow-ups, and member-specific tasks completion. Details of when our program will begin will be posted here and on our social media pages.


Academic Advancement:
Transition into academia from a military and/or first responder life may be difficult. Coupled with social and administrative barriers a student veteran may encounter can adversely affect one’s resolve.
 
Phenix Legacy understands that everyone’s path in academia is unique. So we utilize a Peer-mentor/Peer-support approach to help ease a service member into academic life by helping them create and execute a path with definitive milestones that a service member can achieve. From learning about academic benefits and resources, to researching different programs/schools, assisting with the application process all the way to walking across the stage come graduation we will be there to empower and support the servicemember to help them achieve their goals. For more information on our academic advancement initiative, CLICK HERE to contact us.