Initiation and Rites of Passage
Youth need to be initiated into their culture in positive and nurturing ways. Adults need to mentor youth into a vision for productive adulthood. Otherwise, we see youth attempt to initiate each other without guidance or wisdom as seen in street gangs. Indeed, elements of initiation into gangs are identical to those found in Rites of Passage practiced throughout history by indigenous peoples to provide youth a transition into adulthood. Youth Mentoring Connection programs reclaim the positive and constructive aspects of initiation – The result is that youth develop a sense of self and the desire to make positive contributions to the community.
Initiation and Rites of Passage
Youth need to be initiated into their culture in positive and nurturing ways. Adults need to mentor youth into a vision for productive adulthood. Otherwise, we see youth attempt to initiate each other without guidance or wisdom as seen in street gangs. Indeed, elements of initiation into gangs are identical to those found in Rites of Passage practiced throughout history by indigenous peoples to provide youth a transition into adulthood. Youth Mentoring Connection programs reclaim the positive and constructive aspects of initiation – The result is that youth develop a sense of self and the desire to make positive contributions to the community.
Innovative mentoring
Youth are not machines that need to be fixed. They need to be valued and feel valued. When connected to strong and caring mentors, youth begin to see that they are cherished by their community and respond by being more conscientious about their lives. Youth Mentoring Connection provides training and integrated coaching models to guide mentors and mentees through the mentorship journey.
Innovative mentoring
Youth are not machines that need to be fixed. They need to be valued and feel valued. When connected to strong and caring mentors, youth begin to see that they are cherished by their community and respond by being more conscientious about their lives. Youth Mentoring Connection provides training and integrated coaching models to guide mentors and mentees through the mentorship journey.
A Hero’s Journey
When young people come into our program they embark on a journey of discovery. They discover new strengths, a caring community, and a supportive adult mentor to guide them along their journey. The path that we ask mentors to accompany and guide them along is based upon Joseph Campbell’s Hero’s Journey. All epic sagas can be plotted along this model – from Homer’s Odyssey to Star Wars.
Every Hero’s Journey initiates the protagonist into a new way of interacting with the world. We devised program sessions that are fun, but with meaningful ways to provide experiences for our youth (and their mentors) to become heroes in their life saga by discovering the gifts that they all carry deep inside.
Instant community
Psychologist Abraham Maslow teaches that in order to fully actualize we all first need to “belong to something bigger than ourselves.” Humans have an instinct for community. If we don’t provide this for our youth they will do it for themselves. All too often the outcome is gangs or other forms of anti-social groups. Youth Mentoring Connection provides our mentoring within the context of an instant community. While each youth has their own mentor, the mentoring takes place in a group setting, allowing all mentors and mentees to form a variety of meaningful connections.
Gift Centered Approach
Our mentors understand that mentoring is not about simply giving good advice. They understand that the most effective way to mentor an “at risk” youth is to shine a light on their gifts and care for their wounds. Gifts include inherent talents and positive personality traits each person was born to share with the world. We have discovered natural leaders, musicians, entrepreneurs, engineers, counselors, and other gifts waiting to be acknowledged. Youth Mentoring Connection programs put the components in place for each youth to be “seen,” to feel deeply inspired, and to realize there is a purpose for their lives.
Sawubona
Sawubona, or ‘I see you’, is at the essence of everything we do at Youth Mentoring Connection. When youth are truly seen, they aspire to become their best selves. Our team provides caring adult mentors and innovative programs that give youth the support and resources they need in order to be ‘seen’, to feel valued, and to grow into the person they were meant to become.
Sawubona is an invitation to a deep witnessing and presence. It enables us to see each other for our gifts and our purpose in the world. It helps us see the beauty and genius that lives inside each of us. When a mentor approaches their mentee in this spirit, a whole different level of conversation is possible.
Implementing the YMC Model
Highly informed, skilled and trained staff use the following model to guide the development and implementation of Youth Mentoring Connection Programs. This is what our program timeline looks like:
Questions?
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YMC staff are available to answer your questions about the programs we offer, how to become a mentor, or anything else in service to the youth of Los Angeles.
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