Ann Arbor Esquires Leadership and Mentoring Program

Building young leaders through mentorship, structure, and opportunity.

ELMP is committed to developing young Black men academically, socially, and personally, with a central focus on higher education and service to humanity.

Ages Served

8 to 17

Junior Esquires ages 8 to 11 and Senior Esquires ages 12 to 17.

Vision

Preparing Tomorrow’s Leaders

To prepare young men to become respected, socially conscious, college educated, and high achieving leaders.

Download Information Packet
What is ELMP

ELMP is a structured leadership and mentoring program designed to help young men grow with purpose.

The Ann Arbor Esquires Leadership and Mentoring Program supports young men through mentorship, academic encouragement, leadership development, service, cultural exposure, and future planning. ELMP is designed to build confidence, strengthen character, and prepare Esquires to lead in school, in their communities, and in life.

Leadership Development

Success Seminars and guided experiences help Esquires build discipline, communication, public speaking, teamwork, and sound decision making.

Academic Support

ELMP reinforces academic effort through progress tracking, tutoring support, reflections, goal setting, and encouragement toward higher education.

Mentorship and Life Skills

Mentors help Esquires grow socially and personally while reinforcing responsibility, confidence, cultural pride, respect, and service to humanity.

Program Leadership

Leadership roles that help guide ELMP with consistency, care, and purpose.

ELMP is strengthened by leadership roles that provide vision, structure, communication, and day to day support. Together, these roles help create a consistent experience for Esquires, families, mentors, and community partners throughout the program year.

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Strategic Leadership

Program Director

The Program Director provides overall vision, leadership, and long range direction for the Esquires Leadership and Mentoring Program. This role helps ensure that ELMP remains aligned with its mission to develop young men through mentorship, leadership development, academic encouragement, service, and exposure to opportunity.

  • Guides the overall direction, priorities, and long term growth of the program.
  • Provides oversight for major initiatives, partnerships, and special program experiences.
  • Helps maintain excellence, accountability, and consistency across the full program year.
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Operational Support

Assistant Program Director

The Assistant Program Director supports the administration and execution of ELMP while helping maintain structure across program activities and operations. This role works closely with program leadership to help ensure seminars, mentoring efforts, special events, and family engagement move forward in an organized and effective way.

  • Supports planning, logistics, volunteer coordination, and event preparation.
  • Helps strengthen continuity and communication across program activities.
  • Provides added leadership capacity where support and problem solving are needed.
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Day to Day Coordination

Program Coordinator

The Program Coordinator manages the daily coordination of ELMP and often serves as a key point of contact for families, mentors, presenters, and participants. This role helps organize the details that keep the program running smoothly and helps ensure each Esquire receives consistent support throughout the year.

  • Coordinates communication, reminders, attendance, forms, and program follow up.
  • Organizes materials, schedules, submissions, and student support needs.
  • Helps turn the vision of ELMP into a structured and meaningful experience.
Working Together

These leadership roles work in partnership to help ELMP remain welcoming, organized, mission centered, and responsive to the needs of Esquires and their families.

ELMP group photo
Mission + Vision

Helping young men grow into confident, capable, and purpose-driven leaders.

ELMP combines mentorship, educational guidance, service, leadership development, and life skills in a supportive environment built on accountability and growth. The program is designed to meet young men where they are and help move them forward with structure and care.

Junior Esquires

Ages 8 to 11

Age-appropriate support with shorter, interactive sessions focused on respect, confidence, communication, and accountability.

Senior Esquires

Ages 12 to 17

Focused on leadership, academic growth, service, college and career readiness, and long-term personal development.

Esquire Code

Code of Conduct and Esquire Credos

These guiding standards reinforce how Esquires are expected to carry themselves with discipline, respect, purpose, and accountability throughout the Ann Arbor Esquires Leadership and Mentoring Program.

ELMP Code of Conduct

Code of Conduct

Program expectations for speaking, participation, respect, engagement, punctuality, appearance, and accountability.

The Esquire Credo

The Esquire Credo

A clear statement of discipline, responsibility, integrity, service, focus, and personal excellence for Esquires.

The Jr. Esquire Credo

The Jr. Esquire Credo

An age-appropriate creed that helps younger Esquires build respect, responsibility, and pride in learning.

Why this matters

These standards support the culture of ELMP by helping Esquires understand what it means to show up prepared, represent themselves well, honor others, and grow into disciplined young leaders.

Program Structure

What Esquires experience throughout the year.

ELMP is more than a single event or occasional meeting. It is a guided experience built around seminars, community service, social activities, mentoring, and recognition.

Etiquette and Project Alpha Seminar

Success Seminars

Interactive sessions focused on life skills, growth, development, and student engagement.

Caring and Sharing ACE Academy

Community Service Projects

Monthly opportunities to serve others and understand the value of giving back to the community.

Big Best in Games group activity

Group Social Activities

Wholesome outings and shared experiences that build connection, care, and brotherhood.

WISD CTE Success Seminar

Mentor and Esquire Connections

Meaningful mentor relationships that connect youth to secondary, collegiate, and professional examples.

EMU Campus to Court Experience

College and Career Exposure

Tours, workshops, and planning experiences that help Esquires see future educational and career pathways.

Monthly Flow
1
Attend Seminar
2
Reflect and Apply
3
Mentor Follow Up
4
Participate in Service or Social Activities
5
Track Progress and Goals
Program Highlights

Key features from the ELMP information packet.

These features expand the program beyond basic meetings and help create a strong, youth-centered development experience.

On Demand Tutoring Support Network

  • Flexible academic support when an Esquire needs help
  • Short-term, purpose-driven tutoring
  • In person or Zoom support based on need and availability

Black History and Cultural Identity Series

  • Monthly themes that build cultural pride and civic awareness
  • Student presentations, discussions, and creative projects
  • Museum visits and local historical experiences

Project Alpha and Leadership Exposure

  • Workshops on responsibility, relationships, and decision making
  • College, career, and leadership development activities
  • Youth voice included in planning and feedback

Year-End Recognition

  • Student Recognition Dinner
  • Certificates, jackets, badges, and milestone recognition
  • Opportunity to showcase learning and growth
Engagement and Positive Reinforcement System (EPRS)

EPRS rewards growth, effort, consistency, and leadership.

The Engagement and Positive Reinforcement System, or EPRS, is ELMP’s signature framework for setting clear expectations, tracking progress, and celebrating meaningful milestones throughout the year. This branded system helps Esquires and families see growth, stay engaged, and work toward visible achievements with purpose.

Measuring Success graphic

10 Success Goals Earned = Esquire Jacket

Success Goals and Reward Tracking Sheet Open Document

Bronze Rising Leader, Silver Dedicated Scholar, and Gold Elite Esquire recognitions build toward Elite, Distinguished, and Legacy Esquire honors over time.

Recognition Pathway and Jacket Story

ELMP recognition is designed to help every Esquire see how daily habits, leadership choices, and long-term commitment build a visible story of growth.

Badges → Jacket → Legacy
Step 1

Badge Symbols Build Meaning

Each badge connects an action to a symbol. Esquires are recognized for academics, attendance, leadership, college and career readiness, personal growth, and the Bronze, Silver, and Gold achievement levels.

Step 2

Recognition Levels Show Progress Over Time

Elite, Distinguished, and Legacy Esquire honors help families understand the long-term pathway. Returning Esquires retain earned badges, awards, recognition, and years of service as they continue growing in the program.

  • Elite Esquire recognizes strong engagement and completion of success goals.
  • Distinguished Esquire recognizes sustained commitment across years.
  • Legacy Esquire recognizes completion, graduation, and lasting leadership impact.
Step 3

The Jacket Tells the Esquire’s Story

The left side represents consistent actions and habits. The right side represents achievement, identity, and who the Esquire is becoming. Together, the jacket becomes a visible record of discipline, service, growth, and leadership.

Step 4

Proper Badge Placement Completes the Story

The official badge placement guide helps every Esquire display achievements with consistency, pride, and professionalism. Each badge location represents a specific area of growth, leadership, recognition, and long-term commitment within the ELMP journey.

Parents

Clear expectations. Simple next steps. Strong partnership.

Parents and guardians play an essential role in attendance, communication, transportation planning, and support at home.

Program Fee

$40 participation cost helps cover the Esquire polo shirt, t-shirt, and other program materials. Financial assistance and flexible payment options are available for families who need support.

Required Worksheets

Download and complete based on your Esquire’s age group.

Submit Required Items
Headshot PhotoSubmit
Grade ReportsSubmit
Attendance ReportsSubmit
Achievements ListSubmit
Life Plan WorksheetSubmit
Resume WorksheetSubmit
Portfolio WorksheetSubmit
Interview WorksheetSubmit
Mentor Training

Complete training. Submit screening information. Move forward in the approval process.

All ELMP mentors are required to complete the mentor training academy and submit their Mentor Training Certificate along with NSOPW check information. This helps ensure that every mentor is prepared, screened, and aligned with the standards of the Esquire Leadership and Mentoring Program.

Step 1

Complete the ELMP Mentor Training Academy

Access the mentor training website and complete all required modules. Mentors should finish the full training before moving to the submission step below.

Access Mentor Training

Step 2

Upload certificate and submit NSOPW check information

After training is complete, upload the Mentor Training Certificate and enter the required NSOPW check information, including current address and three references with phone numbers.

Certificate Upload and NSOPW Check FormOpen Form

Related document: Certified Mentor Tracking Sheet

Mentor approval note

Mentor approval is not complete until both the training requirement and screening submission have been received and reviewed. Incomplete submissions may delay approval status and mentor placement.

Start the Esquire journey.

Complete the electronic ELMP application, grade release, and consent forms online. Returning families can also use the upload forms above to complete their Esquire file.

1
Review program expectations
2
Complete the application form
3
Watch for follow up email and next steps
Support ELMP

Invest in the growth of future leaders.

Donations and sponsorships help provide mentorship, seminars, recognition, supplies, enrichment experiences, and support for families who need assistance.

General Donation

Support seminars, materials, meals, supplies, and program operations.

Donate Now

Support an Esquire

Help a family facing financial challenges by offsetting fees and participation costs.

Support an Esquire

Sponsor a Program Activity

Invest directly in workshops, service projects, educational visits, or enrichment experiences.

Become a Sponsor

Contact

Get in touch with ELMP.

Use this section for general questions, program inquiries, parent support, and follow up.

Matthew Coats
Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc.®
ΘΖΛ | Theta Zeta Lambda Chapter
matthew.mm.coats@gmail.com
annarbor.elmp@gmail.com
(734) 634-2140

Chapter website: annarboralphas.org

Sponsorship

Support ELMP through sponsorship.

Use the live ELMP Sponsorship Form for sponsor inquiries, partnership interest, and official sponsorship submissions.

Sponsorship Form