Community-Based Mentoring
Opportunities
Youth Mentoring Connection has a 10-year history of delivering worksite- and community-based mentoring programs serving "at-risk" youth throughout Los Angeles. Our mentoring programs are relationship-based - through developing a trusting relationship with a caring, consistent adult, our youth are able to develop more trust and esteem in themselves.
How it Works
Our mentoring programs are each structured as a 9 month commitment with two scheduled monthly meetings, to provide support and build community for mentors and mentees. One of the meetings each month is a Group Session, where all mentors and mentees in the program participate in fun, facilitated group activities to build community, life skills, and relationship skills. The other meeting each month is a One-on-One, where each mentor-mentee pair goes off individually to participate in activities of their own choice (dinner, movie, ball game, etc.).
Current Mentoring Opportunities
Prospective mentors have several different program options to choose from:
- We are seeking mentors for two new programs with Adams Middle School, serving 6th and 7th graders from South Central Los Angeles. Our "Zenith" program just began on January 27th and meets every other Wednesday, 5:30-7:30 pm, near downtown L.A. We are seeking a few more mentors to join the Zenith program. A second Adams program will begin February 23rd and meet on Tuesday evenings. If you'd like to get involved, now is the time to apply!
- Download our Wednesday evening program calendar.
- Download our Tuesday evening program calendar.
- Visit our blog for photos of last year's Adams program.
- We are gearing up for another program with Children’s Hospital, which will serve youth ages 10-15 who are at risk of gang involvement in Northeast L.A. This program will begin March 23rd and meet every other Tuesday evening in Glassell Park, 5:30-7:30 pm. We are currently signing up mentors for this program, so contact us if you are interested!
- Download the Children's Hospital Program Calendar.
- Visit our blog for photos of the Children's Hospital program.
What do you need to mentor?
Staff provide extensive training and support to mentors - our goal is to be there for you so you can be there for our youth! No special skills are required, just the desire to help a young person reach his or her full potential. Mentors should be age 21 or over (but we may be able to work with you if you're between 18-21 - give us a call to talk more about it!), and should own or have regular access to a vehicle. We ask that mentors be able to keep their commitment to their mentee through attending the scheduled group and one-on-one sessions, and making one phone or email contact in the off weeks. We ask mentors to show up, role model participation, be genuine, and be themselves. We conduct an interview, background check, and mentor training to ensure the safety of our youth, and to prepare mentors for what to expect. From there - the rest of the magic happens on its own through the mentoring process!
To Learn More & To Apply
To find out more about mentoring with
us, please email sarah@youthmentoring.org or monk@youthmentoring.org, or call us at 323-731-8080 x111. If you're ready to apply, simply fill out our online
application. You can also download
the application as a Microsoft Word document and return it by fax or email. Once we have received your completed application, we will contact you to schedule an interview. Mentors will also be asked to complete a 1-day training and a background check. (A TB test is also required for some programs.)
Other volunteer opportunities are available, whether your company
would like to become a corporate partner, or you as an individual would
like to volunteer in Fundraising, Recruitment, Administration, or another
area. You can also learn about joining our Leadership Board or
Board of Directors. Please contact
us at ymc@youthmentoring.org
for more information!
