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and commitment, and caring. And those are things that we all have plenty of." Antonio Villaraigosa, Mayor of Los Angeles What is Mentoring? Simply put, Mentoring is about relationship. The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation states that "all students need adult mentors who know them, look out for them and push them to achieve." A mentor is an adult who provides a young person with support, counsel, friendship, reinforcement and constructive example. Mentors are good listeners, people who care, people who want to help young people bring out strengths that are already there. Mentoring - the presence of caring adults offering support, advice, friendship, reinforcement and constructive examples - has proved to be a powerful tool for helping young people fulfill their potential. Mentoring can be either an informal/casual type of relationship, or a more formal/structured relationship. An informal mentoring relationship is one between a caring adult and a young person formed during the course of regular life events, where the adult provides guidance and support to the young person. This person could be a coach, the parent of a friend, a youth program worker, a trusted neighbor, or any number of other people a young person comes into contact with in their daily lives. A more formal approach (and the type of mentoring Show me The Way focuses on) is organized by a specific organization and usually takes place over a pre-determined period of time. The organization creates a structured and trusting environment that brings young people together with caring adults who offer guidance, support and encouragement aimed at helping the youth with a specific goal, such as finishing high school and going to college. a cheerleader, being a supporter, being a friend." Andrea Cochrum Founding CEO, Fulfillment Fund WHAT'S HAPPENING? | GET THE DVD |