Our Mission & Vision
- To empower youth in Norfolk build the independent, resilient character they will need to earn success and enjoy happy, fulfilling lives as adults.
- Cut the poverty rate in Norfolk by one-half within one generation.
To support the mission of Next Step To Success under the direction of the program’s Site Manager. The Success Coach is a professional role-model and non-traditional teacher who will provide transportation, mentorship, leadership, and guidance within a supportive and engaging environment to youth who are learning to cultivate healthy character traits. Education & Experience Minimum Qualifications:
I love challenges, I love learning new things, and I believe in the power of effort. I can learn from setbacks and gain strength from failures with the belief that I will improve with effort to achieve my highest potential.
Setbacks in life are not the result of something inherently or permanently wrong with me but actually learning opportunities enabling me to build upon strengths through renewed effort.
I will set my personal expectations high and overcome my fears and selfdoubts through purposeful effort to achieve my full potential.
I am not a passive victim of circumstances. I believe that I can change my life and my world for the better. In fact, I am the only person in control of my direction in life.
I will exhibit passion and perseverance in the pursuit of my long-term goals through the daily discipline of deliberate practice, with the gritty determination not to give up when the going gets tough.
I will display strengths of the head, gut and heart necessary to never compromise my integrity while always considering the needs of others.
How do the three steps of the Success Sequence give young people the best chance of achieving success?
During the last ninety years, The Barry-Robinson Trust, an organization founded by Norfolk businessman Frederick J. Robinson, has been driven by its Catholic heritage and mission to improve the lives of children and their families. Currently, the organization’s programs include The James Barry-Robinson Institute, which provides residential treatment to military-connected youth at The Barry Robinson Center, foster care services for Hampton Roads children and teens, and an outpatient program for teens and young adults. The Trust also established Saint Patrick Catholic School in 2005, with the mission of cultivating future generations of courageous and compassionate student leaders. Barry-Robinson has now launched Next Step to Success (NSTS) as a bold initiative to tackle the high rate of intergenerational poverty in Norfolk.
The impetus behind the start of Next Step to Success was our Chairman’s service on the 2013-14 Mayor’s Commission on Poverty Reduction in Norfolk, during which he took a “deep dive” into the magnitude and nature of our chronic, intergenerational, and seemingly intractable poverty in Norfolk. Over one in four….. Norfolk children are dwelling in poverty (more than 50% in certain zip codes), and the overall poverty rate in Norfolk is almost twice the state average.
Although people are prone to say “they” should do something about this poverty (whoever “they” are), these cold, hard facts have haunted us for the past ten years. Thus, we decided that “we are they.” In recent years, we have quietly prepared to launch an initiative aiming to equip at-risk youth in Norfolk with the practical knowledge, character strengths, and life skills needed for them to escape or avoid poverty as adults.
Rob McCartney, CEO, states, “The team at The James Barry-Robinson Institute is honored to continue its service to the Norfolk and greater Hampton Roads community with programs that lead with compassion and hope.” Next Step to Success is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that offers teens a wide range of activities that will inspire and propel them to become more confident and capable versions of themselves. Through highly intentional programming, teens will learn strategies to maximize their chances for success. Life skills and character strengths such as resilience, grit, growth mindset, learned optimism, self-control, teamwork, problem-solving, and responsible decision-making are central to our program. Next Step to Success is an affiliate of The James Barry-Robinson Institute and the Barry-Robinson Trust.
Founder and Chairman, Board of Directors, Next Step to Success
Chief Executive Officer
VP of Operations
The program has been absolutely wonderful! It takes my grandson's time up in the afternoon instead of being on the computer, and I love that. This has been such a rewarding experience for him.
My grandson just turned 13 and is finally in the program. My granddaughter was in the program before him and is now at VCU. She was incredibly shy, but while in the program all she could talk about was Mr. Muhanmna and all the friends she made.
You've helped my daughter grow and develop. My son was also a participant in the program, he's now in college! Next Step to Success has helped me raise these kids.
These coaches are invaluable to our family. It means a lot to me how patient you are with my child.
I picked up the phone on a Friday, saying I don't know what I'm going to do with my child on Monday. They said 'I got you', and its been that way ever since.
My husband and I are very thankful for this program. Elijah used to be a shy kid and is now coming out of his shell. If I have any problems, I call Mr. Muhanma, I have him on speed dial!
