Our Mentors are Seeing Real Results with their Mentees
When we discuss the wealth of benefits that mentorship has on the City of Dreams youth as children, we want our community to understand the gravity of this program on the youth’s lives as a whole. Structural barriers have contorted the BIPOC experience from alignment with fair means of living. Growing children in these isolated, BIPOC-dense neighborhoods face unseen challenges that influence their trajectory in adult life. This is why we know mentorship is crucial. Our mentors are actors in the victories of our youth’s confrontations with school, poverty, relationships, and trauma. Navigated by their one-on-one mentor friendships or through group mentors, we notice significant growth in the youth’s self-esteem, ambition, and autonomy. Sarah, since becoming matched with her mentor Sydney, has oriented herself towards multiple academic avenues including a chef-in-training internship at the Michelin star restaurant, Niku Steakhouse! Blanca’s mentor, Ashley, has noticed her creative side coming out with the new experiences they’ve done together such as knitting classes and floral crown workshops. De’Maya and her mentor Cassidi plan out daily healthy habits and keep each other accountable to them! Mentors give mentees access to perspectives shaped by different environments, and to the thinking of compassionate leaders. Their presence helps offset the weight of oppression and poverty–oftentimes just feeding the youth can be monumental in their day-to-day lives.
Damarianna and Ali last year ice skating at Union Square
We asked some of our mentors about their experiences with their mentees:
Ben and Victor:
Matched 2 years ago, the pair have grown alongside each other and now maintain a “good rhythm” of bonding, exploration, and friendship. Noticeably more comfortable with his mentor, Victor expresses his academic accomplishments in math and social studies; and personal accomplishments in making new friends. Ben, concerned with whether his mentee is struggling silently, strives to involve himself with Victor and City of Dreams as much as possible. This means, taking Victor on adventures around the Bay Area, making sure to check on his wellbeing, and participating in City of Dreams events, like as a speaker at our recent gala. Truancy was a past concern of Ben’s, but is now seemingly less of a problem now that Victor is more comfortable in school settings.
When asked what his favorite memory is with his mentee, Ben said, “I think taking him and his sister to Coit Tower and grabbing Tony's Pizza afterwards was my favorite moment, because they got to experience a part of San Francisco they had never seen/been to before. It really opened my eyes to how isolated and cut off these kids can be.”
Ben’s final thoughts on mentorship: “It’s one of the most rewarding things you can do. You’ve got limited time on earth; spend it wisely.”
Emily and Michelle:
Emily and her mentee Michelle matched one year ago and ever since, have connected over city exploration and trying new things together. Initially very timid, Michelle has accomplished so much over the last year since meeting Emily!
Michelle gave acting a chance, performing in her high school’s rendition of “Survivors of a Broken System”
She performed as the lead singer in her high school graduation!
Michelle is the first in her family of 10 siblings to pursue higher education. She is currently attending SF City College studying Zoology and plans to transfer to a 4-year university.
With an eventful past year, Michelle is gradually growing into herself and searching for more ways to expand her worldview, with Emily playing a huge role in this.
Emily explains to us what she’s seen during her time as a mentor with City of Dreams: “Many of the youth have been through experiences we could not even fathom as adults.” Through her first-hand participation in our teen group for girls, Ground Zero Girls, events and other City of Dreams programs, Emily acknowledges this truth when she bonds with Michelle. The actions of compassionate people like Emily aid in the heightened self-esteem and positive autonomy of our kids. This result is seen by Emily at Ground Zero Girls events–she says that Michelle’s confidence inspires the welcomed vulnerability of her peers.
Emily’s final thoughts on mentorship: “The love, light, and joy we give our mentees is always returned… When I think of City of Dreams, I am reminded that community and love will always flourish if we continuously plant and nourish those seeds.”
As we continue to extend our reach to more young people in Bayview, we encourage those of you who are considering becoming a mentor to sign up! Becoming a Group Mentor is needed, and starts you on the path towards a meaningful one-on-one match. You or someone you know could be the enrichment our kids need.