Mentor Me is a nonprofit organization that recognizes students who are struggling with academic success and challenges in their social life. Those challenges may include mental and behavioral health issues and challenges from family members such as unemployment, incarceration, and drug use. A way that Mentor Me assists these at-risk students is matching them with an adult mentor in order to achieve the kid's absolute best in school and in life.
I learned about the VISTA position during my last semester at Sonoma State University. The description showed different ways to be involved with community organizations, which is something that interested me and would allow me to gain more experience with the career I plan to pursue after my year of service. VISTA also introduced me to Mentor Me, which I had no knowledge about. After taking a tour and getting to know what Mentor Me is about from the Executive Director and other staff members, everything else felt as if this year was going to go smoothly. I joined Mentor Me to understand more about becoming an adult figure in a student's life. Having a role model is something that every kid needs, even if they don't show it. I believe that showing up and spending time with a mentee really makes a difference and shows the impact of how someone in the kid's life affects the outcome of their future. This all starts by being present.
Becoming part of this dedicated organization has also inspired me to help spread awareness, knowledge, vision and the mission that Mentor Me has established throughout the past 17 years. Mentor Me has the most inspiring stories from various mentorships such as an elementary school girl who was matched up with her mentor and throughout the years still keep in contact and still meet with each other at least once a month. That girl is now a college graduate from UC Berkeley. So far, my time with Mentor Me has been a great experience and the outcome has been a rewarding feeling, knowing that helping others in their life could lead them into the path of success and happiness.
[Related: Welcome Brenda, Iris, Jesus, and Lliana!]
My AmeriCorps VISTA role is recruiting Sonoma State University students who are enrolled in courses who are part of a service-learning course to be a part of Mentor Me. These service-learning courses allow students to get first-hand experience on volunteering their time with non-profit organizations in their community. Students who decide to volunteer with Mentor Me are assigned to particular opportunities Mentor offers such as Mentor Me Clubs, Homework Club and short term buddy-ships.
One personal note about the agency that must be addressed has to relate to the events that happened during the fires in Sonoma County. I have never heard about such a wonderful and helpful organization as Mentor Me. They opened their doors to evacuees, received donations and distributed them to families affected by the fires. Mentor Me also received help from neighbors from the community and some from different cities and or states. All of this was done smoothly and without any prior evacuation and shelter training. I acknowledge Mentor Me for opening their hearts and keeping those safe, warm, and secured. I encourage you to take your first steps into changing the lives of students who really need it. Some are on the waitlist and have been for at least two years. They are waiting to be matched with their own mentor and that mentor could be you with Mentor Me.
To get involved with Mentor Me, Contact:
Jesus Rocha
AmeriCorps VISTA member; Mentor Me | 426 8th Street, Petaluma, CA 94952;
Office: 707-778-4798 Fax: 707-778-1176 www.WeAreMentorMe.Org.