Successfully Overcoming The Odds (SOTO)

I went to a meeting after volunteering to work with this organization. What I found was several things that you might consider before volunteering for this organization. The first thing I found was that this organization does not communicate well among its staff and subsequently is disorganized. Secondly, the person overall in charge is over her head and it seems unwilling to delegate to others. As a result execution suffers. I attended a 2+ hour meeting with staff and other volunteers but was never even called to perform any volunteer work when I was told that I would be called. My interest was to act as a facilitator. The mission of the organization is a very good cause and I am sure there is need in the organization for both money and help. I seems to me that the program director does not seem to be willing to delegate. It seems she would rather be the one executing the functions of the group rather than managing. If these issues are rectified, then I would highly recommend them.

This program has really helped my son and me with dealing with the every day issues that 14 yr old black boys have to deal with, meaning the gangs, girls, drugs, the street attitudes etc. My son has come a long way he start with the program when he had just turned 13 and he has been with them ever since he is doing better in school and at home he listens more and when things that would normal make him mad and angry come up he has learned how to deal with that angry a whole different way.