Youth Justice Institute Mentors
(Click here to fill out YJI's Mentor Application)
(Click here to learn how to Sponsor a Mentoring Relationship)
Fall 2010 mentors were honored at YJI's Winter Celebration.
Click here to view more photos from the event on facebook.
YJI’s mentoring programs proudly offer a diverse, intelligent, and passionate group of individuals who care deeply about connecting with youth. The mentor’s primary role is to serve as a positive example for youth; they also provide support, stabilization, guidance, educational support services, and resources.
Expectations for Mentors:
- Good listeners
- Meet the youth where they are, both physically and emotionally
- Reserve judgment
- Work in the constraints of the institution
Within our highly structured program, mentors are supported by YJI staff through an initial 18 hour training and weekly check-ins and debriefing. Mentors work with youth to complete worksheets on topics like goal setting, healthy relationships, cultural awareness, and job readiness. Each week they are given a new vocabulary word to incorporate into their teachings.
Over the years, our skilled mentors often go on to graduate and secure jobs in the fields of criminal justice, law enforcement, social services, mental health, and law. They report that their experience with YJI trains them to better understand the needs and – more importantly – the strengths of young people. YJI writes letters of recommendations for our mentors to potential employers or universities in order to support them in achieving their career goals.
In the mentors’ words...
Click here to watch Alejandro's video testimonial.
"There's so many ways to use the short time have with [my mentees] to my advantage and to their advantage. You can tlak with them about finding jobs, safe sex, anything. Most of all, it's the fact that you were there. For a lot of these kids [who are locked up], one of the thngs they need most is just a visitor... they don't have regular visits from their parents or from their friends or from anybody. To have a mentor come down for 45 minutes... there's so much potential there. And it's impacted me greatly. It's helped me learn how to talk with kids and to find out what exactly I want to do with my life."
–Alejandro, 2010
"The experience I gained from YJI has been invaluable. I knew that it would be, but it wasn't until I actually had face-to-face time with youth that I realized how much your organization helped me. Mostly in dealing with different types of people and understanding how to respond to each individual in a way that works for them, but also just understanding how to work with at-risk youth. Those four hours/week mentoring gave me more than 5 years of university schooling!"
–Kat, Fall 2008
"When I first joined the program in February of 2001, I didn't know exactly what I wanted to do after college. The program made me realize that there are young folks who need our help. So, after leaving the program I stayed in the field and have recently started a non-profit organization in the East Bay to help at-risk youth. None of this would have been possible if not for the program and for that I'm very thankful."
-Lakesha, Inside Mentoring Program's first mentor, 2001
"The best part of mentoring for me was meeting with my mentee, talking to him, seeing him open up & smile from time to time & the feeling of having a positive effect on someone else’s life. This made me more positive about some things, sense of empowerment, gave me something new to look forward to each day and a sense of belonging to something positive."
-Mike, Fall 2002
"I entered into this commitment because I thought I had something to offer. I had no idea that I would be the one who would benefit so immensely. It is truly one of the most powerful experiences of my life."
-Eileen, Fall 2007
"I'm here in Los Angeles, in the midst of finals but I often think back on my great experience at YJI as a mentor, and it inspires and motivates me to work very hard in law school. I can't wait to take the bar (in 3 years...) and become a juvenile defense attorney."
–Kathleen Summer 2008