Mentoring
The AALEAD Mentoring Program matches youth (ages 8-18) with caring adults from the community who support them one-on-one to develop their social, life, and academic skills necessary to succeed.
What We Believe
We believe in the positive effect the Mentoring Program can have on young people by connecting youth one-on-one with caring, committed adults to form relationships that:
Build social and emotional skills
Provide youth with a safe avenue to express their feelings and frustrations
Improve their self-esteem and foster positive self-identity
Give youth opportunities to explore new interests and develop hobbies
Motivate them to pursue higher education or entry into the workforce
Youth Mentoring
AALEAD’s volunteer mentors serve as important, supportive adult figures to mentees, helping youth develop confidence; achieve goals; and navigate linguistic, cultural, and institutional barriers. There is a focus in the program on social and emotional skills, such as decision making, self awareness, relationship skills, and social awareness. AALEAD also provides opportunities for pairs to participate in culturally relevant programming and attend fun field trips and events.
Mentor Eligibility and Qualifications
Be at least 21 years old
Pass all background and reference checks
Ability to partner with a youth in developing life skills and behaviors for at least one year
Has a positive attitude, optimism, genuine desire to be helpful, ability to empathize with others, and open to learning new perspectives
Mentor Commitment Requirements
Attend training in positive youth development and mentoring approaches
Be in touch with mentees for about five hours a month (this includes in-person meetings, phone calls, video chat, etc.)
Connect with AALEAD staff on a regular basis
Contact AALEAD staff if the mentee needs additional support or has challenges beyond the scope and capacity of the mentor’s responsibilities
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Matching
Mentor and mentee pairs are done by staff based on the youth’s goals, language needs, areas of interest, career aspirations, and the mentor candidate’s competency in developing others to realize their potential.
If you have questions, please contact our Mentoring Program Manager, Hannah Cheyney, at mentoring@aalead.org.
“We’ve been meeting almost every weekend—it’s been great. She gave me a tour of UNBC, Baltimore & UMD Medical School! I really like that she really advocates for me to go out and apply to things. I got a summer internship because she recommended I apply and helped motivate me.”
High School Mentee