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MENTORCONNECTOR

powered by MENTOR

MENTOR’s Mentoring Connector is the only national database of quality mentoring programs that enables people to search for local mentoring opportunities. Potential volunteers can search for programs using their zip code, and then contact those programs about becoming a mentor

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The Mentoring Connector is a free referral service that helps quality youth mentoring programs across the country, regardless of size and capacity, recruit more volunteers to become mentors. This makes the mentoring field more equitable for smaller or rural programs that may not otherwise have the ability to directly reach volunteers. Several of MENTOR’s national partners utilize and promote the Mentoring Connector to support their commitment to young people, including Starbucks, LinkedIn, and NBA Cares. These partners embed the Mentoring Connector onto their own website, enabling a wider audience of volunteers to connect with local mentoring programs.

LEARN MORE
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COMPLETE

ONLINE FORM

Go to the Mentor Connector form below, fully complete and submit

your application.

CHOOSE A

MENTORING PROGRAM

Take time to review all of the many different youth mentoring programs. Choose one that matches your interests or the committment you are prepared to make.

FOLLOW UP

Don't wait. Call the mentoring organization. Send them an email and let them know that you are ready to mentor.

MENTOR

Be the adult that YOU needed when you were young. It's time to MENTOR!

COMPLETE THE FORM BELOW TO FIND LOCAL MENTORING OPPORTUNITIES...

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WHAT MAKES A GOOD MENTOR?

Mentors assume these different roles during the course of a relationship, and share some basic qualities:

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  • A sincere desire to be involved with a young person

  • Respect for young people

  • Active listening skills

  • Empathy

  • Flexibility

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Mentoring relationships are a shared opportunity for learning and growth. Many mentors say that the rewards they gain are as substantial as those for their mentees, and that mentoring has enabled them to:

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  • Have fun

  • Achieve personal growth and learn more about themselves

  • Improve their self-esteem and feel they are making a difference

  • Enhance their relationships with their own children

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Above all, a good mentor is willing to take the time to get to know their mentee, to learn new things that are important to the young person, and even to be changed by their relationship.

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LET'S GET STARTED​

You have made a wonderful and very important decision in choosing to become a mentor.  Before you start to look at the programs that are available, think about and identify your own interests and needs. To help you decide which type of mentoring program you want, ask yourself the following questions:

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  • What time commitment can I make?

  • What age of youth would I like to work with?

  • Would I like to work with one child or with a group of children?

  • Would I like to team with other adults to mentor a child or a group of children?

  • What types of activities interest me? Do I want to help a youth learn a specific skill, pursue an interest, help with schoolwork or just be a caring adult friend?

  • What mentoring location would I prefer?

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While thinking about these questions, it is helpful to identify your own preferences and needs, and remember mentoring programs are not a “one-size-fits-all.” Knowing about yourself will help in selecting mentoring programs to better fit your needs and ultimately connect with a young person.

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