034° Mentorship that moves you forward
Find your direction.Build your future.
DIRA welcomes all youth and families, with a focused commitment to immigrant, low-income, underserved, first-generation college-going, and racial and ethnic minority communities. We help teenagers and young adults discover their purpose, find direction, and confidently prepare for life after high school.
Want to expand access? Support a student →
10
Students max
03
Regional cohorts
16
Weeks
Every part of Dira is built around one idea: a coach who actually knows the student beats a program that scales past them.
Never padded to fill a room
A small enough cohort that the coach actually knows every student by name.
A plan, not a workshop
One continuous coaching arc from test prep through a real 90-day plan.
In your region, in person
Evening sessions held locally across the Minneapolis–St. Paul metro.
072° Why Dira
A compass for what comes next.
“Dira” is Swahili for compass. Like a compass, we don’t choose a student’s destination; we help them read their own bearings and choose a path that fits who they are.
Four decisions we made on purpose. Each one because the alternative is what makes most mentorship programs forgettable.
Small by design
Capped at 10, not padded to fill a room: small enough that a coach knows every student's name, their score history, and where they're stuck, before week two.
One coach, all 16 weeks
No rotating tutors. The person running ACT strategy in week 2 is the same person running the 1:1 coaching session in week 15.
Built to escalate, not repeat
Test prep first, then direction, then the life-skills work that actually determines whether a plan sticks after week 16.
Parents included
A family progress conference partway through, so a parent isn't guessing how it's going from a distance.
Young people need more than information.
They need trusted relationships, practical tools, and people who will walk alongside them.
Growing up amid distraction, social pressure, uncertainty, and competing expectations can affect identity, confidence, belonging, and emotional well-being. DIRA strengthens protective factors, including purpose, resilience, healthy decision-making, positive adult relationships, family engagement, and hope for the future, so young people are better equipped to navigate challenges and avoid harmful coping behaviors.
097° One mission
Two pathways to opportunity.
DIRA Mentorship provides structured coaching, while DIRA Program helps make that support accessible to young people who may otherwise be unable to participate.
Coaching and preparation
DIRA Mentorship
We walk alongside teenagers and young adults as they explore life after high school and build a plan that reflects who they are and where they want to go.
- Post-high-school planning and academic support
- Cohorts capped at 10 studentsCareer exploration and financial literacy
- Individualized life coaching
- Small cohorts and family engagement
DIRA Mentorship LLC provides fee-based programs, but program costs are intentionally kept highly affordable compared with typical market rates
Nonprofit youth and family development
DIRA Program
DIRA Program expands access to holistic mentorship for immigrant, first-generation, low-income, and underserved youth and families. Grants, donations, sponsorships, and community partnerships help reduce the financial and practical barriers that can keep young people from participating.
- Need-based financial assistance and sponsored participation
- Community-based mentorship cohorts
- Parent and guardian education and support
- Life skills, wellness awareness, and resource connections
DIRA Program is a separately governed nonprofit organization. Charitable programs and contributions are administered independently from DIRA Mentorship LLC.
Young people don’t grow in isolation. DIRA supports young people and their parents or guardians together. We equip families with information, encouragement, and practical tools; strengthen communication; and help them navigate educational, career, and community resources. Our role is not to replace the family, but to strengthen the family’s ability to walk alongside the young person.
145° Two-generation approach
Young people do not grow in isolation.
DIRA supports young people and their parents or guardians together. We equip families with information, encouragement, and practical tools; strengthen communication; and help them navigate educational, career, and community resources. Our role is not to replace the family, but to strengthen the family’s ability to walk alongside the young person.
118° The program
Sixteen weeks to explore, prepare, and move forward.
Young people are not all headed to the same destination. We help each participant consider college, technical training, employment, entrepreneurship, service, and other meaningful opportunities then build a practical plan for their chosen direction.
Phase 1 · Weeks 1–8
Academic Preparation
ACT strategy, timed practice, personalized feedback, and study habits that help students grow in confidence.
Deliverable: Participants leave with a working ACT study plan.
Phase 2 · Weeks 9–12
Explore the Possibilities
Students connect their strengths and interests with college, career, training, entrepreneurship, and service pathways.
Deliverable: Participants create a pathway shortlist and action calendar.
Phase 3 · Weeks 13–16
Life Skills & Coaching
One-on-one support with goals, communication, time management, budgeting, and the transition ahead.
Deliverable: Participants finish with a personal 90-day plan.
Although DIRA Mentorship is an LLC, program fees are intentionally priced to remain highly affordable compared with typical market rates. Payment plans and need-based assistance are also available.
156° How Dira works
From registration to first session, in four steps.
- 01
Pick a cohort
Choose a region and weekday below. Seats are capped at 10; a full cohort moves you to the waitlist for the next one.
- 02
Complete registration
Fill out one detailed form with student and family details. No account or password required.
- 03
Pay securely
Pay the $1,500 program fee in full, in 2 installments, or in 4 installments through Stripe.
- 04
Get confirmation
You'll receive an email confirmation right away, and the Dira team will follow up directly with your cohort's schedule.
199° Cohorts
Ten students, one region, one weekday.
Every cohort is capped at 10 so the coaching stays personal. Choose the region and weekday that works for your family: the program, price, and payment plan are the same across both.
Northern Metro Cohort
Elk River, Ramsey, Anoka
$2,000
$1,500
Flat program fee · pay in full, in 2 installments, or in 4
Registration for November Cohort
Meeting in Brooklyn Park can also meet closer with enough participants
$2,000
$1,500
Flat program fee · pay in full, in 2 installments, or in 4
Once a cohort fills, new students join a waitlist for the next opening. Not sure which region fits? Contact us.
241° Pricing
One flat price for the whole program.
Dira Mentorship
Limited-timeFull 16-week program
$2,000
$1,500
Flat, one time (no add-ons) · campaign pricing for a limited time
Pay in full, split into 2 installments ($750 + $750), or 4 installments ($500, $340, $340, $320)
Already registered? Pay your remaining balance
What's included
- 8 ACT coaching sessions
- 4 college & career sessions
- 4 one-on-one coaching sessions
- A finished readiness portfolio
- A family progress conference
Enrollment is confirmed once a completed application and payment are received. Cohorts are capped at 10 students; students beyond that are added to a waitlist for the next opening. No specific ACT score improvement is guaranteed.
241° Enrollment options
Choose what fits your family.
Need-based
Financial assistance
Varies
Partial or full support may be available to qualifying families.
Apply for assistanceAlready registered?
Continue your payment plan or pay your next installment and pick up right where you left off.
Have your registration number?
Enter it with the email you registered with to pick up your payment plan.
Pay what's due now
Pay your next scheduled installment, or clear the full remaining balance early.
Forgot your registration number?
Enter your email on the payment page and we'll send it to you.
178° DIRA Program
Every young person deserves someone in their corner.
DIRA Program helps qualifying students access college, career, ACT, and life-readiness programming through donor-funded scholarships and sponsored community cohorts. Financial assistance is based on demonstrated need and available funding. Applying does not guarantee an award.
Tell us about the student
A parent, guardian, counselor, or student completes a short request.
We review eligibility
DIRA considers financial need, barriers, readiness, and available funds.
Receive an award decision
Approved support is applied before the student completes enrollment.
Many immigrant, first-generation, low-income, and underserved families want to support their children but face demanding work schedules, transportation challenges, limited funds, unfamiliar educational systems, or a lack of affordable after-school opportunities. Through subsidized services, scholarships, sponsored cohorts, family engagement, and community partnerships, DIRA Program helps remove these barriers.
Our whole-person approach helps young people build confidence, resilience, self-awareness, healthy coping skills, and a practical plan for life after high school. When a participant needs clinical, crisis, or specialized support, we help the family connect with appropriate community resources.
Charitable programs and contributions are administered separately through DIRA Program.
DIRA provides mentorship and education, not clinical mental-health or substance-use treatment.
305° Our impact framework
Expanding access. Measuring progress.
As DIRA grows, we report both who receives access and what students complete, create, and carry forward.
Access
Open the door
Scholarships awarded, sponsored seats, and community cohorts delivered.
Readiness
Build the tools
ACT plans, coaching hours, readiness portfolios, and program completion.
Direction
Move forward
Postsecondary plans, applications, career pathways, and 90-day action plans.
283° Our impact
Whole-person growth that lasts.
DIRA’s impact goes beyond attendance. We help young people develop the confidence, relationships, practical skills, and sense of direction needed to make healthy choices and prepare for the future.
Identity & well-being
Know who you are
Participants strengthen identity, confidence, resilience, belonging, purpose, healthy coping, emotional regulation, decision-making, and conflict-resolution skills.
Readiness & direction
Build a practical plan
Young people improve academic preparation, explore college and post-high-school pathways, and complete a pathway shortlist, action calendar, study plan, and personal 90-day plan.
Relationships & resources
Grow with support
Participants strengthen communication with parents or guardians, connect with trusted adults, and gain access to community resources and meaningful opportunities.
01 Skills for healthy futures
What participants develop
- Positive routines that support academic, physical, emotional, and social well-being
- Skills to recognize behavioral and substance-use risks, resist negative influences, and seek help early
- Practical experience with communication, budgeting, time management, résumés, and interviews
- Awareness of college, technical training, employment, entrepreneurship, service, and other pathways
02 How we measure progress
Evidence at every stage
DIRA uses baseline, midpoint, program-completion, and 90-day follow-up assessments to track:
- Program participation and completion
- Confidence, identity, resilience, and healthy coping
- Positive behavioral and lifestyle changes
- Academic-readiness improvement
- Completion of individualized pathway plans
- College, career, or training milestones
- Parent and guardian engagement
- Access to mentors and community resources
03 Future results display
Benchmarks we are working toward
These percentages are proposed performance targets, not verified results. DIRA will publish outcome percentages only after they are supported by completed program data.
90%
complete the 16-week program
85%
report increased confidence, well-being, and direction
100%
complete an individualized pathway plan
80%
improve their academic-readiness assessment
90%
of families participate in coaching or family engagement
75%
complete a college, career, or training milestone
Our role is preventive and supportive. DIRA provides mentorship, education, and resource navigation, not clinical treatment. When specialized mental-health, crisis, or substance-use services are needed, we connect families with qualified providers. Until verified outcome data are available, DIRA describes its work as substance-use prevention and reduced risk of substance use.
328° Support a student
Help turn potential into a practical plan.
Your support helps remove financial barriers to ACT preparation, college and career planning, individual coaching, and life-readiness education.
Your contribution supports DIRA Program, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Contributions support charitable programming.
Give any amount
Choose an amount and complete your gift securely on Zeffy, our nonprofit donation processor.
Choose an impact level
Continue to supportYour contribution supports DIRA Program via Zeffy, our nonprofit donation processor. It is not payment for services offered by DIRA Mentorship LLC.
344° Partner with us
There is more than one way to expand opportunity.
Schools & counselors
Refer students, host an information session, or collaborate on a cohort.
Community organizations
Identify eligible students, provide space, or co-host programming.
Businesses & foundations
Sponsor students, learning resources, career exposure, or regional growth.
Mentors & volunteers
Share professional experience through optional panels and enrichment.
283° FAQ
Questions, answered.
High schoolers who want structured help with ACT prep, college and career direction, and the life skills that make a plan stick.
Still have questions? Start a registration and ask along the way.
360° Full circle
Your next chapter starts with direction.
Take the first step toward a clearer, more confident future.