Blog Post Title Six
California Mentor Careers
It’s Easier Said Than Done
The ALMS youth programs, which focus on empowering young adults ages 15-25 through job
readiness, can provide retired and professional volunteers with an opportunity to engage with
youth participants. The job readiness training is only as successful as the volunteers who
participate in it. Where the student participants who attend ALMS are the target, the adult mentors
are the arrows that provide the information and passion necessary to bring work ethic, character
development, and communication skills needed when mentoring at-risk youth and young adults.
The mentors who become youth mentors must be there with the right motive – to make a difference
in a young person's life. And, there are several reasons why attracting the right adults as mentors is
easier said than done.
Having spent two decades recruiting volunteers for nonprofit organizations, I can attest to the
challenges. Finding individuals who are available, understand the need, and possess the right
skills and desire to perform the task is always a hurdle. This underscores the pressing need for
more volunteers in our organizations.
Volunteering is an opportunity to set aside your own agenda and serve others in a small or big way.
The act of volunteering can include simple acts of kindness by one person to a group that has a
need within a community. I grew up when a new neighbor moving in, provided an opportunity for a
family to bake a bundt cake or have a barbeque and invite them over for a cookout as a simple act
of welcoming the new folks into the community. Young people were encouraged to show interest in
the new neighbors and look for common interests as we shared a little about ourselves. Once the
new neighbor came into the house, they were seated, if time permitted, and introduced. It wasn't
uncommon for neighbors to become Uncle Joe and Aunt Jane if they visited frequently. Neighbors
continued to greet each other, and not doing so was considered rude.
Those were the days when young people volunteered with their Boy or Girl Scout troop, club, or
family members during special holidays. However, now background checks and reference calls are
required. Dangerous people may live in your neighborhood; in fact, they might even be part of your
family. Whatever the reason, many of our young people have not had a continued model of goodwill
within and towards their community from community members. It's becoming increasingly popular
that many young adults willing to trust someone recognize the need for a mentor if they plan to
grow in their life or career. High school students who understand the purpose of a mentor will also
admit that they desire help in this way. So, why doesn't every community have a teenage mentoring
program?
Why isn't there a safe space for young people to be themselves, be heard, and feel accepted
without judgment from adults? The answer is simple - it's easier said than done. But it's not
impossible. First, we need to understand what a mentor is, what makes them successful, and how
we can integrate mentoring into our daily lives. The ALMS youth programs started a Woodland
mentorship program as a learning lab within the area, and it has proven to be very successful. This
success is not just for the individuals involved, but for the entire community. ALMS aims to share
many reasons, ways, and stories that make starting a teenage mentoring program not just a
possibility, but a reality, and a source of pride for the community.
Adults have a habit of 'preaching' AT young people. I've noticed that when I take a certified course
at a college or observe a high school classroom, the adult talks more than asks questions of the
students. It's no wonder that students may drift off into their world, grab their phone, or keep their
headphones on for their listening pleasure. When I've asked young people why they dislike school,
they often share that it's boring. However, when they go through the ALMS training, we don't see
phones, headphones, or participants drifting off, because we are always asking questions!
Becoming a youth mentor is a journey to empower others. It means you are ready to engage with
their interests, discuss topics that hold meaning, and guide them towards a better version of
themselves. It's a testament to your belief in their potential, their dreams, and their future. Your
role is to ignite their passion, to encourage them to explore beyond the ordinary, and to assure
them that they have a significant role to play in the grand scheme of things.
Mentoring at-risk youth is one of the most significant opportunities anyone can experience;
however, it is very misunderstood. As a mentor, we represent a great leader who is known for
inspiring others to reach their goals for the benefit of everyone. That power comes from a
relationship. Likewise, a mentor is not defined by control, but rather by the shared interest,
respect, and memories they build together.
The essence and dynamics of the mentor-mentee relationship are crucial in shaping the quality
and outcome of the mentorship. A mentor is dedicated to the personal growth of the young person,
the mentee, not as a puppeteer who lives through their protégé. If a mentor spends more time
imposing their thoughts, goals, beliefs, and opinions than listening to the mentee, they are not
fulfilling the role of a mentor. A mentor's goal is to understand the mentee, encourage them on
their journey, and guide them, not control them.
As a mentor, you can enrich your mentee's life by sharing your life experiences through engaging
and relatable stories that turn into valuable lessons. You can also provide resources, such as
places to visit and people to connect with, that can help young people seek assistance. Moreover,
you can impart life skills that the mentee should pursue, learn, or adapt to, and help them make
sound decisions independently. Often, what young people need is guidance on the next step, not
judgment or someone to fix their problems for them. A mentor's goal is to empower the mentee to
make their own decisions and find their own solutions.
It's easier to fix a problem for someone rather than to show them how to avoid, remove, or find their
own answers. That doesn't teach our young people what they need to know to make it. A mentor
teaches how to fish so our young people can fish again, when and where they need it. Eventually,
they will become the mentors of the next generation, welcoming the neighbor who has moved in,
and hopefully meeting the kids with a big smile and kind words. The old can become new again, the
community can become a safe place, and we will begin to learn from each other as a much larger
family that mends what is torn, as mentors.
If mentoring is not for you, your financial support is always needed so others can do the work as
adult mentors. Donate to youth mentorship program with All Leaders Must Serve/Job Readiness as
a monthly giver of $25, $50 or $100 a month, the Big Day of Giving campaign in April/May or during
the school year. Click on the website at www.AllLeadersMustServe.org/donate. If you’re interested
in volunteering or mentoring contact Jayne Williams, Executive Director at jayne@almsinyolo.org or
go to our webpage at www.AllLeadersMustServe.org/contact.
