Friday's Follow-Up

Vote Tomorrow Because Ignorance is not a Virtue!!!
Read Tony's Blog about why you should vote.

Tuesday with Mentor and Mentee - Gina & Aleida
Aleida thanks her mentor, Gina, for the strong bond and support she provides.


We just started a new mentoring year with both HBO and Warner Brothers. Check out the pictures from those sessions!
HBO Meet & Greet Session 10.07.10

WB Meet & Greet 10.12.10



Have a great weekend.

Agueda

WB Meet & Greet 10.12.10

HBO Meet & Greet Session 10.07.10

In this session the mentors and mentees at HBO got a chance to meet each other for the first time. The session was composed of a series of icebreakers to engage the new mentees and mentors in the program.This session was the start of a new 9 month program.

Tuesday with Mentor and Mentee- Gina & Aleida

"There is not enough words to describe the impact you have brought into my life. There isn’t a category to label your indescribable friendship! You fit into all categories! You have become more than family, not only to me but to all my tribe as well. You are more than a best friend, bigger than a sister. Our relationship has gotten stronger, only thanks to the trust we have for one another. We are together as one! No more solos!"

-Aleida

Vote tomorrow because ignorance is not a virtue!!!

Politics lately has answered the debate about whether racism, homophobia and sexism are still alive in America. So many of the things that we work so hard to overcome in the inner-city are being promoted by the people who want to “take back our country”. As our country becomes more polarized and hate language spreads, conflict and violence seem to be a more acceptable answer for our youth as well. As ignorance becomes portrayed as a virtue in our political discourse it becomes harder to inspire youth to value education. As fear becomes the tactic of those in power to manipulate people to vote against their own interests, youth feeling powerless in their lives, see the power in causing others to fear. Youth reflect their culture.
In all honesty I don’t know how much your vote means anymore in the political process, especially in California where we have tied our politicians hands with the initiative phenomena…and where so many of them are in the pockets of big business. It is however a statement, and maybe if you follow it up with discussion, action and involvement in your community we can move back toward a more civil culture. I am in the business of hope and dreams. So, I vote.
Finally, in glaring contradiction to my belief in nuanced discourse, here are several more reasons to vote tomorrow as reflected in signs seen at the Jon Stewart “Rally to Restore Sanity and/or Fear” :

respectfully submitted

Tony

Tony LoRe, CEO & Founder

Youth Mentoring Connection

Jackson Browne- An Evening Under the Stars

Video footage from Youth Mentoring Connection's special benefit concert with Jackson Browne on October 7, 2010. Jackson talks about his belief in youth mentoring and the importance of mentors in the lives of youth. Funds raised from this concert will go towards Youth Mentoring Connection's dream of an Urban Oasis in South Central Los Angeles.  Youth need a place to feel safe and have their needs met so that they can dream of a better life.

Miguel & Me - A Mentoring Story

This is the first in a series of mentoring stories from YMC's Leadership Board.

I started mentoring Miguel in 1998. Early on I remember one of the kids in Miguel’s class asking if I was paid to show up. When I told him no, I could tell by the expression on his face that he had a hard time with the concept. He seemed to truly wonder what incentive I had for showing up. And in the beginning it’s always interesting to see how your mentee explains who you are to his friends.

But let's face it, our formal title of “Mentor” doesn't always feel right. Especially when the relationship is brand new.I think that quite often, from the kids perspective, you go from strange volunteer, to strange volunteer who keeps showing up. And then, eventually, (if you stick with it) you earn the title of mentor. But if you're really lucky (like I have been) even the title of mentor eventually stops sounding natural. After so many years have passed you begin to feel like an extended family member.

About halfway into my first year of mentoring, I showed up to meet with Miguel. I usually timed my visits to coincide with his morning recess. At this point I was unquestionably the best soccer goalie in the entire school. I still remember this moment vividly, I walked up to the outside of Miguel’s class just as the kids were lining up to go to recess. A few of the kids raced over to tell me that Miguel had gone home sick. I paused for a moment, thought about it, then said, "Well, is it OK if I stay and hang out with you guys." A few them reacted by jumping up and down, high-fiving each other and basically just celebrating my decision to stay. I love that about kids.

And it's no coincidence that on that day, my soccer performance supreme. I don't recall my exact statistics but I’m fairly sure the other team didn’t come close to scoring on me.Over twelve years have passed since I somewhat reluctantly made the one year commitment to become a mentor. It’s nearly impossible to sum up what the relationship has meant to me. After watching a curious boy grow into a confident man, a deep bond emerges. What I can say is that the decision to join a formal mentoring program remains one of the best decisions I’ve ever made.

Brandon Parker
YMC Leadership Board Chair

Tuesday with Mentor and Mentee- Amy & Lizzette

“Amy means a lot to me. I know that I can count on her for anything and it’s a great feeling to know that you’ll always have someone to count on.

Thank you for being my mentor because I know it’s hard to make time for me but you somehow you still do. The time we spend together is always great.

Thank you for being another amazing woman in my life! J”

–Lizzette