Empowering Florida’s Youth Through Mentorship

OUR WORK

We believe that potential is equally distributed, but opportunity is not. Every young person, regardless of their background, has inherent abilities and talents, but not everyone has equal access to the same resources and support systems they need.

We help grassroots organizations foster quality mentoring relationships by producing research for the field, shaping policy change through advocacy, and driving public awareness on the impact of mentoring for young people. We catalyze and convene a diverse, cross-sector movement that champions meaningful relationships and fuels opportunity for young people in every space they occupy— from classrooms to workplaces, and beyond.

EXPANDING THE MOVEMENT

Advocating for civic leaders, employers, and individual stakeholders to prioritize youth by investing in efforts that foster access to mentoring relationships. 

INFLUENCING SYSTEMS

Helping educational, corporate, and youth-serving systems incorporate relationship-centered practices and policies that drive the adoption of a mentoring mindset.

PRIORITIZING QUALITY

Generating cutting-edge research and driving the implementation of evidence-based best practices at the grassroots level to increase the quality of mentoring relationships for young people. 

ADVANCING LOCAL FIELD LEADERSHIP

Deepening the statewide impact of the mentoring field by supporting Florida’s mentoring nonprofits through hands-on training, resource dissemination, and support in local advocacy and fundraising efforts.

Youth With Mentors Are:

  • More likely to feel supported in their well-being – 58% of young people say that their mentor has supported their mental health.

  • 22% more likely to have experienced a strong sense of belonging while growing up.

  • More prone to feeling confident in their ability to tackle academic challenges. 85% of young people with a mentor say this key relationship helped them with issues related to school and their education.

OUR EVIDENCE

Emotional Impact of Mentoring

According to MENTOR’s Who Mentored You? national study (2023), Americans attribute much of their success in life to their mentors. There are strong correlations between mentoring during childhood and increased sense of belonging and stronger mental health.

  • 74% of those who had a meaningful mentor say that person contributed significantly to their later success in life.

  • 85% of young people with a mentor say this key relationship has helped them with issues related to school and their education.

  • 58% of young people say their mentor has supported their mental health.

  • 60% of those under 40 years old are still drawing advice from their childhood mentors.

The impacts of mentoring are limitless and compounding

Mentoring provides meaningful connections that influence life at home, work, and in the community for both youth and mentors. For youth, mentoring is linked to improvements in academic, social and economic prospects. For mentors, gains from mentoring are substantial – among them, achieving personal growth, improving self-esteem, and having fun!

Becoming a mentor is a chance to connect, inspire, and grow.

Learn more about the widespread benefits of mentoring from leading mentoring researchers and experts in the field by clicking below:

Mentoring Brings Our Community Closer Together