mustangs mentoring program

Helping young people to fulfill their potential

The Mustangs Mentoring Program is helping to turn around the lives of at-risk teens by pairing them with caring, adult mentors. The program focuses on John Muir High School freshmen and 7th and 8th graders from Washington Middle School, particularly students who struggle with poor school attendance, low academic performance, emotional distress or behavioral issues. The mentors serve as positive role models. They offer encouragement so that troubled teens see themselves in a more self-affirming light and stay motivated and focused on their education. The support and guidance helps keep the students on track so that they graduate and go on to productive futures.

A Collaborative Partnership

Mentoring services were launched on Muir’s campus in the fall of 2008 and will expand to the Washington Middle School campus in January 2010. The program was created by Flintridge in partnership with the Pasadena Unified School District (PUSD) and numerous community-based organizations. The collaboration brings together local agencies that provide mentoring services and groups that refer adult volunteer mentors.

The agencies involved in overseeing the mentoring services on Muir’s campus are Catholic Big Brothers Big Sisters, College Access Plan, Lake Avenue Community Foundation, Mentoring and Partnership for Youth Development (MPYD) and YWCA Pasadena-Foothill Valley. Each organization has a different service delivery model and approach to working with youth. For instance, MPYD’s mission is to help young males, while College Access Plan focuses on college and career guidance. The diversity of the agencies allows students to choose a “support culture” that meets their needs and offers the best fit.

Students are referred for mentoring by Muir’s teachers, counselors, administrators and after-school program personnel. The mentoring agencies then match the students and volunteer mentors with the help of the school counselor. They also coordinate the mentoring services with the students’ parents or guardians, and they supervise and support the mentoring relationships in working towards planned objectives.

The groups helping to recruit mentors include All Saints Church, Black Male Forum, El Centro de Accion Social, Leadership Pasadena and others. Prospective candidates undergo a screening process that includes an application, program orientation, personal interview and reference checks. Those accepted as mentors receive training and ongoing support by the mentoring agencies. All mentors must commit to meeting with their mentees for at least five hours per month for a period of one year.

The Need for Mentors at John Muir High School

The program grew out of the planning sessions for John Muir’s reinvention. The high school, which was under threat of state supervision for poor performance, was to be divided into four themed learning academies, including a special academy just for freshmen. Mentoring services were a way to increase the success of the incoming class as they transitioned into the new school environment. A one-on-one relationship with a caring adult can make a huge difference for teens with academic and social problems or who lack parental support. Students who perform poorly in school and have truancy and negative behavior issues often find it difficult to catch up, which can lead to their dropping out or failure to graduate. Moreover, early intervention is critical. The program’s expansion to middle school students exposes young people to healthy influences and adult guidance sooner in their development so that they are better prepared for the pressures of high school.

Be a Mentor

Adult volunteer mentors are needed. If you would like to make a significant contribution to the life of a young person and are interested in serving as a mentor, please contact Lisa Wilson at (626) 449-0839, ext. 116 or visit the Mustangs Mentoring Program’s website.

Photo: Dr. Gabe Veas