By Nate Delesline III
nate.delesline@insidebiz.com
For nearly three decades, Robert Goodrum has made mentoring young people his day-to-day business.
After serving in the Navy in Norfolk and in New England, Goodrum felt spiritually led to return to Hampton Roads to found Youth Outreach Urban Resources and Services - or YOURS - in 1995.
A teenage outreach, YOURS describes itself as "a holistic ministry," said Goodrum, the organization's president. "We try to deal with kids in various areas of their life, educational enhancement, life skills, recreation, social and also spiritual awareness."
And as a Christian-based program, the people of YOURS also share "that there's a God out there that cares for them and desires to be in relationship with them, but it's their choice," Goodrum said.
"We do guys and girls mentoring groups, where we work with about 30 to 40 kids, and it would be nice for us to partner with some business groups that would come in and just share their story," Goodrum said.
YOURS also is looking for mentors and business sponsors that would be interested in helping to fund events and initiatives.
Overall on an annual basis, YOURS works with about 600 to 800 young people. Goodrum said the program is active in all of Norfolk's public high schools, most of the city's middle schools and the region's colleges.
Goodrum grew up in Annapolis, Md. He is a 1977 graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy. He was honored as midshipman of the year for his class, served nearly 30 years in the Navy and retired as a captain. He was stationed in Norfolk for about five years and then assigned to Newport, R.I., and while there decided to leave active-duty and transition to reserve status in order to have the opportunity to work with young people.
"That's when my work really started - in Newport, R.I., in 1986," Goodrum said. "In 1986, God was pressing on my heart to go into full-time ministry." He stayed in Rhode Island, got involved in Young Life and stayed there until 1998 when he felt led to return to Norfolk. From 1998 until 2005, Goodrum continued to work with young people through Young Life but felt inspired to do more. That's when he founded YOURS.
Around the time of the organization's founding, 10 years ago, Larry Hull was in a Bible study in his church with Goodrum and was struck by all the positive stories and accomplishments of the young people.
Those stories showed that "this was an organization worth investing time and energy into," Hull said. He joined the board last year and today serves as chairman.
"We try to get involved with kids to help bring out their leadership potential to allow them to learn and focus on things that are positive and good," Goodrum said. As part of that, he added, they encourage everyone to take charge of their education.
Sometimes part of that education isn't necessarily in the classroom. It could be getting someone out of the city to see or experience something new to plant a seed of inspiration or appreciation.
"We bring them in and allow them to get involved," Goodrum said. "As they get involved and see things and experience things, they tend to stay with us."
To further strengthen the organization's links to the Hampton Roads business community, YOURS recently established a business advisory committee. The committee's mission is to serve as a partner and liaison to the business community by honoring the leadership and guidance that the business community and faith organizations bring to YOURS, Community Engagement and Business Relations Outreach Coordinator Sandra Marie Roberts said.
In late 2015, YOURS had a total budget of $150,000. The organization in late 2014 set a goal to raise $190,000 this year. Roberts said strengthening the nonprofit's links to the community will help them reach their mission and financial goals.
"I go to a lot of business things, and I talk about getting involved," Roberts said. "Many people say, 'We want to get involved with community activities,'" she said. "Many times when I'm talking to people, they say, 'I've never heard about [YOURS] before.'"
As YOURS celebrates 10 years of service, Roberts, Goodrum and Hull said they hope to change that by raising the organization's profile.
YOURS is seeking people in corporate faith-based and professional roles to sit on the organization's board and contribute their expertise in any capacity.
Anyone who is interested in learning more about YOURS is invited to a business advisory meet-and-greet, which is scheduled for 6 p.m. on Aug. 10 at Second Presbyterian Church, 7305 Hampton Blvd., in Norfolk. YOURS is also online at yoursministry.org.