Edison Youth Mentor Program Gets National Praise

EDISON, NJ — Edison's mentor program for at-risk youth received national praise at a Washington D.C. symposium earlier this month.

The SWAG Mentorship Program (Success, Workforce Options, Accountability, and Goals) was launched in 2018. It helped students aged 11 to 14 learn how to make smart life choices, cultivate healthy relationships, and helps students in emerging technologies through tutoring.

The program was highlighted at a symposium hosted by the MetroPark based Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) in Washington, D.C. Edison was the only township invited to showcase how public-private partnerships can bolster STEM education for grade schoolers.

"It is a tremendous honor for our SWAG Mentorship Program to receive this national recognition and attention," Mayor Thomas Lankey said. "Edison welcomes other New Jersey communities and municipalities throughout the U.S. to emulate and build upon the model that we created."

SWAG was created in partnership with the Edison Housing Authority and Tata Consultancy. The ten-week program was open to at-risk middle schoolers living in the Robert E. Holmes Gardens in North Edison.

"It was a great privilege to share Edison’s creative model for helping children improve their academic skills and study habits; and focus their attention on careers in technology and the sciences," said Melissa Perilstein, the Township administrator of policy and strategic initiatives. Perlistein represented the town at the July 16th symposium.

Edison hopes to hold the SWAG program again this fall.