BE A MENTOR

Community-Based Program

Our community-based mentoring program pairs caring adults like you (“Bigs”) with children ages 8 to 13 (“Littles”). Volunteers can participate individually or as a “Big Couple” (i.e. with a spouse or significant other). Each pair or “match” develops a unique relationship based on their interests, hobbies, and values.

VOLUNTEER REQUIREMENTS
In order to volunteer in our community-based program, you must:

• Be at least 19 years old
• Commit to a minimum of one year
• Meet with your Little 2 to 4 times each month
• Be willing to partner with your Little’s family
• Have a stable home address in our service area
• Have a car (in order to transport your Little)
• Recognize the value of a young person’s perspective by listening and uplifting their voice
• And uphold our strong commitment to justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion (learn more)

PLEASE NOTE
At this time, our immediate volunteer needs are men (particularly BIPOC), women in Brooklyn Center and St. Paul areas, and Spanish speakers.

If you fall outside of these demographics and choose to move forward with your application in our community-based program, it could take six or more months before we are able to match you with a waiting Little.

Alternatively, we encourage you to consider volunteering in one of our other three mentoring programs (Free Arts, Grad Coaches, Site-Based Mentoring).

LEARN MORE BY WATCHING THE VIDEO BELOW

Free Arts Program

Our Free Arts program inspires young people to discover and express themselves through art. Caring adult volunteers, like you, engage kids in art projects at one of more than 20 Twin Cities partner sites.

VOLUNTEER REQUIREMENTS
In order to be a Free Arts volunteer, you must:

• Be at least 16 years old
• Volunteer for at least 12 weeks, one hour per week
• Recognize the value of a young person’s perspective by listening and uplifting their voice
• Uphold our strong commitment to justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion (learn more)

LEARN MORE BY WATCHING THE VIDEO BELOW

Site-Based Program

Our site-based program pairs caring adults like you (“Bigs”) with children ages 8 to 13 (“Littles”) to meet one-on-one. In this program, matches meet at the Little’s school or the Big’s workplace instead of out in the community. We are currently accepting site-based volunteers at schools in Minneapolis, Columbia Heights, and Maplewood.

VOLUNTEER REQUIREMENTS
In order to volunteer in our site-based program, you must:

• Be at least 18 years old
• Commit to a minimum of one year
• Be able to meet with your Little during the school day or the hours when that program meets, 2-4 times per month.
• Recognize the value of a young person’s perspective by listening and uplifting their voice.
• And uphold our strong commitment to justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion (learn more)

LEARN MORE BY WATCHING THE VIDEO BELOW

Grad Coaches Program

Our Grad Coaches program supports high school students in strengthening academic skills, improving study habits, cultivating healthy peer relationships, and developing plans for a career or post-secondary education. We are currently accepting Grad Coach volunteers at HOPE Community Academy in St. Paul. 

VOLUNTEER REQUIREMENTS
In order to volunteer in our Grad Coaches program, you must:

• Be at least 19 years old
• Commit to a minimum of one school year (~8-9 months)
• Be able to meet weekly or bi-weekly for one hour during the school day
• Recognize the value of a young person’s perspective by listening and uplifting their voice
• Uphold our strong commitment to justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion (learn more)

LEARN MORE BY WATCHING THE VIDEO BELOW