A Mentor is a trusted friend, an encouraging guide, a good listener and a reliable person. 

Why do Youth need a mentor? 

Through studies conducted by the National Mentoring Partnership, research has shown that by providing youth with a positive adult role model we can help kids stay in school and increase grade performance, build self-esteem, produce positive attitudes, decrease substance abuse and violence, promote social and emotional development, and provide opportunities that would otherwise not exist in the child's life. When a child has an adult in their life who cares about them, is willing and able to nurture their development, and is a good role model for them, that child has the best chance of growing up to become a responsible, productive, caring adult themselves.

• Strong Male Leaders to mentor boys
• Academic and reading tutors 
• Mentors for young people on probation 
• Mentors for pregnant and parenting teens
• Mentors for drug and alcohol recovery residents 
• Mentors for welfare families 
• Mentors for at-risk youth in schools 
• Mentors for inmates and/or their families
  

Former California Governor Pete Wilson is setting the example by devoting 1-2 hours per week to mentoring. He states, "That's what I'm asking of our people and believe it is reasonable service to expect. A small amount of time on a regular basis makes a difference."

"A mentor is someone who allows you to see the hope inside yourself. A mentor is someone who allows you to know that no matter how dark the night, in the morning joy will come. A mentor is someone who allows you to see the higher part of yourself when sometimes it becomes hidden to your own view. I think mentors are important and I don't think anybody makes it in the world without some form of mentorship. Nobody makes it alone. Nobody has made it alone. And we are all mentors to people even when we don't know it."  - Oprah Winfrey