Calling All Mentors!
You don’t have to be cool to be a mentor at Immerse. And you don’t have to be a parent or counselor or therapist. You just have to be you–available and willing to make an authentic connection to help a youth transition out of crisis to become an Overcomer.
At Immerse, mentors play a transformative role in every youth’s Circle of Support. The kindness they show through their unconditional relationships is key to helping our Overcomers realize healing and growth toward a healthy adulthood. While many of our youth’s past relationships are defined as broken or unhealthy, mentors help provide our youth with friendship, guidance, and support on their journey out of crisis toward a brighter future.
“I wouldn’t call it being mentored as much as I would call it hanging out… I first attended one of her classes, and then she offered to be my mentor, and I was like, ‘Sure, why not?’ She may be older, but she acts like a teenager. [So] it makes it easier to conversate with her.”
Four hours a month, or one hour a week, can change a youth’s life. Our mentors know how important it is to have someone to talk to, someone who can accept our youth where they are, and someone who can help our Overcomers envision what their future might be. Our mentors walk alongside our Overcomers as trusted friends and advisors every step of the way.
Jennie and Faith are a powerful example of how this vital relationship works. Before entering Immerse’s LifeBASE Care Program, Faith spent about three years in constant transition and various cycles of homelessness. Over the span of 30 days, she moved five different times. A strong desire for safety and stability for herself and her two children led Faith to find Immerse and enter the LifeBASE Care program. There, she was connected with Jennie, her mentor, within a month.
Prior to mentoring Faith, Jennie attended mentor events and built relationships with other Immerse youth and mentors. So when Akissi Brooks, our Mentor Coordinator, came to Faith with a mentor-mentee pairing, Jennie said, “I was excited to be a part of somebody’s [life] that had kids.” Neither Jennie nor Faith knew what to expect, but they nevertheless forged a strong bond and created a safe, trusting relationship where Faith and her children had someone to rely on.
Jennie was intentional about creating an atmosphere of fun and support for Faith and her little ones to thrive. They spent time at places like All Aboard and sometimes ran errands and made appointments together. Jennie supported Faith’s journey by walking alongside her, and she helped Faith achieve her short- and long-term goals. When Faith accomplished her goal of moving into her apartment, Jennie was there to help her move in. Faith plans to “maintain this support system and [continue to] reach out more,” even after she graduates from the LifeBASE Care Program.
Like any journey out of crisis, there are a lot of ups and downs–some expected, some unexpected. However, Jennie is committed to being there for Faith at each and every step, and she is glad to be a part of Faith’s journey. Jennie strongly encourages volunteers who are interested in entering into these relationships to not only pay attention to the time commitment but also to plug into the different events Immerse has, such as The Gathering, and to get to know other youth, staff, volunteers, and mentors.
“I keep thinking about what I would tell others on the fence about mentoring… I just keep going back to [the thought] that we all have something we can give to one another… love, time, support, and friendship. And you don’t have to have it all together to share that with someone.”
Many of our Overcomers are still waiting to build that unconditional relationship with a trusted person who can walk alongside them throughout their journey. They are waiting for a mentor. But what if the mentor they are waiting for is you?
This Fall, we’re inviting you, and all prospective mentors in our community, to attend “The Gathering” Tuesdays from 4pm-6pm. These dinners are an easy way to get acquainted with youth, connect with staff, and begin the process of becoming a mentor. If you have any questions, please reach out to our Youth Experiences Manager, Jimmie DuVall, at jduvall@immersearkansas.org.
Become a mentor today!