VOLUNTEER
There are many ways to support young people and a culture of mentoring in your community. MENTOR New York can connect you to a variety of volunteer opportunities that leverage your talents and passions in ways that best help our youth.
Learn more and become a volunteer today when you sign up to be a mentor, to start a mentoring program, and/or to be mentoring advocate and supporter.
BECOME A MENTOR
WHAT IS A MENTOR?
Mentors are caring adults who provide emotional support, encouragement, and friendship to a young person. Most of us have had a teacher, supervisor, or coach who has been a mentor to us and made a positive difference in our lives. Those people wore many hats, acting as delegators, role models, cheerleaders, policy enforcers, advocates, and friends. Mentors assume these different roles during the course of a relationship, and share some basic qualities:
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A sincere desire to be involved with a young person
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Respect for young people
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Active listening skills
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Empathy
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Ability to see solutions and opportunities
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Flexibility
MENTORING CONNECTOR
Conduct Your Own Search for Mentoring Opportunities
The Mentoring Connector is a free service and the only database of its kind that enables individuals interested in volunteering as mentors to search for quality youth mentoring programs in their communities.
The Mentoring Connector includes new search parameters, targeting options, and updated mentoring program information.
\If you do not find a volunteer opportunity after searching the Mentoring Connector, please use the Direct Referral process and MENTOR New York will find the right program for you.
DIRECT REFERRAL
Speak with a Member of the MENTOR New York Team for a Direct Referral to a Mentoring Program
If you were not able to find a mentoring program through the Mentoring Connector, MENTOR NY can provide a direct referral. When you fill out our interest form, a member of the MENTOR New York team will reach out to you to learn more about the type of mentoring program you are looking for and will provide 2-3 programs that fit your interest.
WHY MENTORING?
START A MENTORING PROGRAM
Mentoring can happen anywhere young people live, learn, work, and play.
Do you see a gap in your school, company, sports team, orgranization, or community where mentoring could help build positive and lasting relationships between young people and caring adults? Consider starting a mentoring program or intiative.
MENTOR New York can support you every step of the way, from deciding if you should start a mentoring program to getting started to the day-to-day operations.
Through training and consulting services, we will help you design and manage an effective mentoring program. We offer resources, tools, site visits, review of documents, training, ongoing support, and more.
Fill out our interest form and a member of the MENTOR New York team will connect with you:
A VISION BECOMES REALITY
Watch to learn how Pat Banhazl implemented mentoring into the Baldwin School District on Long Island 20 years ago. Today, their program has grown to serve over 400 students from elementary school to high school.
BECOME A MENTORING ADVOCATE
One pillar of MENTOR New York's work includes spreading awareness about the power of mentoring and empowering New Yorkers to become champions for Mentoring Movement.
If you aren't sure you can commit to becoming a mentor at this time, but still want to be involved in the NY Mentoring Movement, connect with MENTOR New York about how you can become an advocate for mentoring.
This might include one-time mentoring opportunities like signing up for a speed mentoring event or a career day where you share your career journey with young people. You could also the Young Professionals Advisory Board (YPAB) and contribute your time and talents to supporting MENTOR New York's corporate and fundraising efforts.
JOIN THE YPAB
The Young Professionals Advisory Board (YPAB) is a group of emerging leaders who dedicate their time, talents, networks and resources to raise awareness and support for MENTOR New York as it works to close the mentoring gap in New York by providing a myriad of services to mentoring and youth development programs across the state.
Members have the unique opportunity to serve as advocates for MENTOR New York's important work, while advancing personal, professional and leadership goals. Each year, the YPAB play an instrumental role in the coordination of MENTOR NY's annual event: Mentoring's Night Out in Memory of Luke Boisi.
