In this episode of The Executive Innovation Show Podcast, Carrie Chitsey and Daniel Miller speak with Will Kiefer. Kiefer is the Founder and Executive Director of Bench Mark Program in Lancaster, PA. He started the organization as a college student in 2014 and has since been recognized by the PA State Secretary of the Commonwealth, the PA State Secretary of Corrections, named a PA Midstate Millennial, Lancaster Young Influencer, and received the Distinguished Service Award for his work in State Juvenile Detention Facilities.  

Listen in on topics discussed during this podcast such as:  

• Learn more about Will Kiefer, why he wants to help at-risk teens and what made him start the Bench Mark Program.   
• Listen as Will describes how they use weight lifting to mentor young teens in the gym, by having mentors that look like them and come from the same neighborhood. Hear how standard mental health therapy in a “four wall office” doesn’t work for this demographic. 
• Has the Opioid Crisis impacted the most hard-hit neighborhoods of at-risk teens? Does the money in prescription pills and heroine drove more wrong decisions for an already troubled demographic? 
• How is Bench Mark making an effort to find alternatives for teens to make money instead of the drug trade? While teaching them resume and interview skills to working with local businesses to find blue collar jobs and access to another talent pool. 
• What is on the roadmap for the Bench Mark Program in 2019 for expansion into more school districts and communities.   

To learn more about the Bench Mark Program list their website, watch their video or read this article!   

Learn more about Humans Helping Humans and how to incorporate digital communications and impacting the lives of at-risk youth.

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