Few things are as rewarding – or lifechanging – as mentoring a young adult.
Mentorship is a unique opportunity to build a meaningful relationship with a young person and make a difference in your community. No matter where you come from or what you do for a living, there are others out there who will benefit from your knowledge, experiences, and friendship – and you’ll reap the benefits too!
Benefits of becoming a Spark mentor:
- Build a meaningful relationship with a high school student, college student, or young adult entering the workforce
- Help your mentee tackle challenges and celebrate their successes as they develop the skills needed to succeed in college and/or career
- Network with other volunteers and build a shared community with a diverse group of likeminded individuals
- Grow your mentoring and leadership skills with extensive Spark the Journey training and resources
- Be part of a collective effort to increase opportunity and economic mobility for young adults from low-income communities in Washington, DC
Ready to get started?
When you volunteer to become a mentor, you’ll fill out a survey so that our team can match you with a young adult whose personality, goals, and interests align with yours. We put significant time and care into the matching process to ensure that your relationship is set up for success!
We’ll also schedule a brief virtual interview to get to know you better. Then you’ll participate in a virtual training session, check in with your dedicated case manager, and meet your mentee.
We’ll be there for you every step of the way.
Mentoring Requirements:
Spark the Journey has three programs: High School (ages 15-18), Post-Secondary (ages 18-23), and Year Up (ages 18-30). Requirements vary by program, so you can select whichever one fits your needs, but here’s a broad overview:
- Meet with your mentee up to twice a month, either on your own time or at a Spark event
- Speak with your mentee 2-4 times a month by phone or video chat
- Participate in mentor workshops or individual calls with your case manager 1-2 times a month
- Commit to supporting your mentee for 6-12 months, depending on your program
“I’m so glad I decided to become a mentor with Spark. My mentee is an awesome young lady who is going to really impact our world for good. It was a bit awkward getting to know my mentee the first few interactions, but before long we became super comfortable with each other. Now we almost feel like family. Becoming a Spark mentor takes time and commitment to your mentee, but it is so fulfilling to see that time and effort pay off with your mentee’s success. While there is a time commitment, the activities and meetings are very manageable. If you have even a little extra time, consider using it to impact the life of one of Spark’s students. You won’t regret it.”
– Nicole Abera, Spark Mentor
