January is National Mentoring Month. How do you plan to celebrate? If you aren’t sure how to honor National Mentoring Month, here are some ideas to get started.

1. The first thing that comes to mind for us is of course… Become a mentor!

2. Spend time with your mentor or mentee or someone who looks up to you.

3. Volunteer with your mentee or mentor to demonstrate to others what mentoring is about. Find volunteer opportunities !

 

4. January 25^th is Thank Your Mentor Day. Give a shout out to your role models and thank them for everything they have done for you!

Check out http://www.hsph.harvard.edu/chc/wmy/Thank_Them/intro.html#tribute where you can write a tribute to your mentor.

5. Spread the word about mentoring. Tell everyone you know how awesome being a mentor or having a mentor is!

 

 

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On Saturday Youth at Risk had its annual Holiday Party. Waste Management donated their time, resources and talent to ensure that this year’s party was a success. Thank you Waste Management!

Waste Management volunteers demonstrated their artistic skills.

Youth wrote letters to Santa and designed Holiday cards for their mentors and families.

Youth indulged in sweets and treats.

Youth waited patiently outside while Santa prepared for their visit.

Santa made a special appearance and passed out gifts to every youth.  

Youth kicked back, relaxed and celebrated the Holidays with their friends in the Phoenix Youth at Risk Community.

Thank you Waste Management for all your hard work and support.  This year’s Holiday party was amazing! We couldn’t have done it without you!

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Throughout the year teenagers and mentors in our New Pathways program participate in community service events. This year our youth decided to change things up and raise money for a cause of their choice. The youth unanimously decided to adopt a family for the Holidays. They couldn’t wait to go shopping and wrap presents for a less fortunate family.

The May and March 2010 New Pathways programs decided to compete to see which group could raise the most money at a car wash.  They set up shop on Camelback Road in two locations and raced to raise money for a family in our PALS program.  The groups announced the car washes on the radio, sold baked goods and waved down cars from the streets.

Youth in our programs are reaching out and giving back to members in their community. Why do those most in need want to give back? Helping someone else is contagious! Be a mentor-log onto www.phoenixyouthatrisk.org or call 602-258-1012 and ask for Nancy!       

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Thanksgiving is here! It’s time to say thank you and show generosity. Phoenix Youth at Risk is fortunate to have our community showing support and kindness not only during the Holiday season but throughout the entire year.

Here’s a snapshot of the support Phoenix Youth at Risk receives. 

Youth in our programs worked together to create a work of art that was auctioned off at the annual Support Sky Harbor Coalition Dinner. Thanks to our youth and Support Sky Harbor, we raised over $61,000.                                                     

The Active 20-30 Club of Phoenix spends one night a month with boys waiting to be matched to male mentors in the PALS program. Volunteers and youth play board games, Wii, soccer, basketball, Ping-Pong and eat lots of pizza.

Boys Hanging Out Waiting to Get Mentors

 

Look at the Transformation! Thank You Brophy, Pet Smart and Cox Communications!

 

Volunteer groups from Brophy College Prepartory, Cox Communications, and Pet Smart helped prepare, clean and paint the inside and outside of our new and old offices.

  A Mentee/Mentor Match Helped  the  Brophy Volunteers

 

Pet Smart Volunteers Sprucing up the Center

 

 

Volunteers From Cox Communication’s Avondale Leadership Team Prepped the New Office for Paint

 

 

 

Above all, we would not be able to exist without the constant support of our mentors, staff and board of directors who make this organization thrive. Thank you for all your support!

A Mentor in the New Pathways Program Made this Cake for a Mentor-Only Meeting

 

A Mentor/Mentee Match in the School-Based New Pathways Program

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Are you 21 or older?

Do you enjoy spending time with youth? Do you like supporting youth? 

               

Do you want to learn something new?

 

 

    

 

Do you like to have fun?

 

 

Do you like being a part of the team?

 

 

 

If you answered yes to all of the above questions, you would be a great mentor! You are in luck, we are currently recruiting mentors for our New Pathways mentoring program. Phoenix Youth at Risk is partnering with Camelback High School for our brand new school-based New Pathways program. We are looking for a few great mentors to support Camelback High School Sophomores.  Are you interested? Do you know anyone that might be interested? Spread the word! Contact Christina Abu-Judom our Volunteer Coordinator with any further questions,  christina.abu-judom@phoenixyouthatrisk.org or 602-258-1012 ext. 314.

     

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1.  A REAL VAMPIRE WILL PAINT YOUR FACE

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Do you have a mentor? Who is your mentor?   For me, a mentor might be a middle aged woman that offers career guidance – it’s what I need at this time in my life and career. 

Kids visit Phoenix Youth at Risk in search of a mentor. So what does the ideal mentor look like? For a thirteen year old boy on our waiting list, a mentor could be any adult.   If the boy’s mom is incarcerated, sometimes the optimum match is a woman.   Sometimes it’s a man.  What age – one of our most popular mentors is 80 years young.   Some mentors are in their 20’s and 30’s.  Mentors just need to want to build a relationship with a child or teen, hang out and have fun.  Simple enough! So why do we have a waiting list? Why don’t we have 100’s of mentors waiting to be matched to mentees?

There is a stigma about mentoring. Youth aren’t looking for the President of the United States to be their mentor. They want someone to spend quality time with them and to get them out of the house every once in a while.  Youth often don’t think about how a mentor can help them improve their social and communication skills and even their grades in school. They want someone to support them. Do you know anyone that likes to hang out and have fun? Can they spare a couple hours a week? They are the ideal mentor. 

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Staff at Phoenix Youth at Risk went to see “Waiting for Superman” last Friday. What we learned was astounding. We all know that not every child that attends high school graduates; but the students that graduate from high school are not academically equivalent. They might have taken similar classes and completed similar work, but not all are equally prepared for college or beyond. Do you think these kids are going to attend college and excel? Some students read at a fifth grade reading level but manage to graduate from high school. Would you have made it through high school at a fifth grade reading level? What about college?

My question to you is how do we change the educational system? “Waiting for Superman” touched on several areas of the educational system that are not working but how can we as community members support a change? We, Phoenix Youth at Risk, serve the youth that “Waiting for Superman” spotlights. Will you join us by being a hero to a youth in our community?

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On September 19th, 36 mentors and 37 Coronado freshman and their families met to celebrate Homecoming, the commencement of Intensive. Families greeted their sons and daughters with flowers, welcome home signs and above all love and support.

During Homecoming, five at risk youth volunteered to share their feelings in front of 100 people. These five admirable youth tore down their walls, took responsibility for their actions and apologized to their families. As one youth burst into tears, she told her parents "I know I treat you bad, I'll stop stealing and lying to you." Families were also given the opportunity to express their feelings; a large courageous father stood up and said "I have a strong temper, please forgive me son." After youth and their parents' shared, there wasn't a dry eye in the gym.

Aren't you curious about intensive? I still don't know much about intensive, but what I do know is lives are changed and I want to do my part to help. I'm ready to be a mentor; sign me up!

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