IYT Johansen High School Impact Update: February 2026
- Mar 19
- 2 min read
Month in Review: Redefining Strength & Stepping into Leadership
February at Johansen High School was a month of deep reflection, community action, and stepping up as leaders. From redefining what it means to be a strong young man to officially launching our peer mentoring program, our Brothers are making a profound impact on their campus and themselves.
Stepping Up: Launching the Junior Mentors Program
In February, we proudly launched our Jr. Mentors program through the Men's Service Challenge with AmeriCorps!
We had many great candidates step up to represent Johansen High School, and we ultimately chose our first four Brothers for the Spring Term. These incredible young men will be leading their peers during programming, conducting 1:1 peer mentorship sessions with mentees, and creating meaningful service projects for their community and campus.
Redefining Expectations & Giving Back: The "Be a Man" Workshop & Community Action
During the month of February, Johansen Brothers had multiple workshop opportunities, engaged in community service, and ended the month with a very tasty Brotherhood Friday!
The highlight of our programming was the "Be a Man" workshop. Brothers discussed the pressures of being a man and the toxic expectations of what a "real man" looks, dresses, and acts like. It was a highly empowering conversation. Our female staff even shared their list of expectations placed on women, helping the Brothers understand that they are not alone and that all genders experience societal pressures.
Beyond the classroom, Johansen Brothers spent their day off giving back by supporting a local garden in Downtown Modesto! We then wrapped up the month with a special Brotherhood Friday treat: making our own custom elote cups, experimenting with fun toppings, and enjoying each other's company while watching a movie.
Brother of the Month
Brother Christopher
11th Grade
Brother Christopher started with IYT last school year during the second semester. When he first started, he was averaging a 0.8 to 1.2 GPA.
However, after seeking help during our after-school study hall and receiving ongoing support from his mentor, Vanessa Soto, Brother Christopher is now a proud 3.0 student! He is also incredibly active within the program, consistently attending college tours and participating in community service projects with IYT. We are all so unbelievably proud of his achievements and honored to name him our Brother of the Month!
Program Directory & Schedules
Program Manager: Jessica Bautista
Phone: 916-524-3350
Johansen High School
Programming Schedule: Mondays & Wednesdays Study Hall: Mondays & Wednesdays
Mentor & Parent Engagement (last month)
Number of Parent Engagement Sessions: | 184 |
Number of Mentor Sessions: | 184 |