MENTORSHIP

Mahoning County

Our Work

We are celebrating 10 YEARS of mentorship this year! In 2014, Young Women’s Mentorship was hosted at William H. Taft Elementary School (YCSD) and Boardman Intermediate School, pairing 30 students in grades 5-6 with women mentors from various professional backgrounds. Since then, the program first expanded to serve young women at East Middle School and Youngstown Community School. For the 2024-25 school year, we will now both young women and men in grades 5-8 at six schools. We expect to serve 230 students at Boardman Center Intermediate School, Boardman Glenwood Junior High, East Middle School, William H. Taft Elementary School, and Youngstown Community School. Students connect with positive role models, address social and emotional issues like self esteem and friendship along with topics such as personal hygiene, academic success, workforce development, leadership, and much more. Thank you to our sponsor, Raphael’s School of Beauty Culture.

HOW TO VOLUNTEER

TWO WAYS TO VOLUNTEER:

Weekly: Boardman Center Intermediate School – Women Volunteers

To be a mentor, we ask that you commit yourself to spending a weekly session with your mentee at Boardman Center.  During the lunch hour, planned programming will primarily be planned by mentors. United Way staff will host an informational planning session prior to the school year. Students will also have visits from four community speakers and go on four field trips. Mentors are not required to attend speaker days or field trips, but are invited to do so.

Monthly: Boardman Glenwood Junior High School – Men Volunteers

We are excited to be expanding our mentorship program to serve the young men at Boardman Glenwood Junior High! This is a monthly commitment where volunteers will meet on the fourth Tuesday of each month between October 2024 – May 2025. We are interested in collaborating with individuals and companies to focus on one topic each month, such as personal hygiene, mental health, skilled trades, finances, and entrepreneurship, totaling to 8 sessions. This pilot program will serve threes groups of 10 students (Grades 6-8) during lunch periods. Times will be confirmed with registered mentors by early August.

Additional Information

Online registration will open on Get Connected this summer. All volunteers who plan to work with students during the 2024-25 school year will attend a free, 60-minute Trauma-Informed Care training hosted by United Way on August 6th or August 7th, 2024. Flexible times and locations will be available in the morning, afternoon and evening. Registered mentors will receive an email to RSVP. Mentors are asked to pass a background test, which is paid for by the United Way.

To learn more about the program, email Kielly Rapp, [email protected].

VOLUNTEER EXPERIENCE

  • "I wanted to do something that would make a difference and have a true impact on a student. Little did I know the impact the program would have on my life, too."

    Shannon Tirone, Young Women's Mentorship

  • “Volunteering for Young Women's Mentorship Program is small thing that makes a huge difference in these girl’s lives. Seeing the huge smile on my Mentee’s face every week when she sees me – means the world to me. She willingly opens up about school, home and friends to me and we have developed a sweet bond. She makes me laugh and I make her turn her homework in! It’s a wonderful experience.”

    Crissa Palowitz

  • "This is my 3rd year as a YW volunteer mentor and I love it! I am a life- long learner who values our younger generation, education and community engagement while helping to make a positive difference in a student’s life. It’s about giving back!”

    Linda Turnage