About
OUR MISSION
To provide holistic, compassionate and culturally responsive mentoring to empower disadvantaged youth and their families in indigenous, minority and impoverished communities so to develop strong minds, strong bodies and strong character.
OUR VISION
To partner with families, schools, charitable organizations, corporations, state and tribal governments in the communities we serve throughout the Northwest; to customize programs for at-risk youth emphasizing the development of character, social skills and healthy lifestyles that improve academic outcomes. Through teamwork, our youth can receive wrap-around support and individual attention to nurture their personal growth and acquire skills to navigate through life.
OUR HISTORY
The Mack Strong TEAM-WORKS Foundation was founded in 2002 by retired professional football player Mack Strong and his wife Zoë Higheagle Strong, a Nez Perce Tribal member. Together, Mack and Zoë’s life experiences, training and education have inspired them to devote their efforts to strengthening the future of at-risk youth. Mack’s numerous years as a highly accomplished professional athlete and leader, along with Zoë’s background in nonprofit management and educational psychology has allowed them to create a unique youth development program. Through collaboration with experts in youth education, a group-based mentoring program and specialized curriculum was developed: StrongMind, StrongBody & StrongCharacter ©. Mentoring paired with the three-part curriculum helps empower youth to see their value in the community, think critically about their future, and develop necessary skills to successfully pursue their potential. The TEAM-WORKS programs have since spread to various urban schools, neighborhoods, and tribal communities throughout the Northwest.