Mentoring Children of Prisoners
Location: Compton, California
According to the National Resource Center on Children and Families of the Incarcerated, on any given day, 2 million children in the United States have one or both parents in prison. The consequences are dire for the parents, the children and the caregivers that care for the children. Of particular concern is the cycle of violence and criminal behavior that often results in children of the incarcerated becoming themselves prisoners.
INMED’s Embracing Our Youth mentoring program provides a positive adult role model to children of state and federal prisoners in order to break this cycle. Through the program, volunteer mentors provide a positive adult role model for these children, help promote emotional stability and improve self-esteem among these children and connect families with supportive community resources.
According to Zakir, one of the mentees in the program, one of the most valuable lessons his mentor Craig taught him was to always have integrity. Zakir explains that this means “to do the right thing even when no one is watching.” Zakir says that Craig has been more than a mentor to him. “He’s been like a dad, a teacher and most of all a friend. I love him dearly.”
Watch INMED's "Everyone Needs a Mentor" Video
Calling All Mentors!
Delila is just nine years old and yet, at such a young age, she has seen her mother incarcerated and has been abandoned by her father. Delila and her four younger siblings now live with their grandmother.
Delila likes jumping rope, playing tennis, and listening to music. She wants to be a lawyer, doctor or nurse when she grows up and would love for her mentor to take her on a field trip to visit a university. Delila really enjoys school and she is an A student. She likes funny people who make her laugh and would love to have a funny mentor! Delila loves her brothers and sisters very much and, even though they are apart, her mother is the most important person in her life.
Alberto is eight years old and loves playing games. He is especially fond of soccer and would love to have a mentor who can teach him more about the game. Alberto enjoys school, and he works hard and gets good grades.
Celeste is six years old and Angel is five years old—both very sweet girls! They are excited to each have mentors whom they can look up to and who can teach them new things.
The children’s grandmother is a little overwhelmed having suddenly had to take on the responsibility of five young children, including a one-year-old baby boy. She wants them to join the mentoring program so that they can have the opportunity to meet new people and do new things. The children are all friendly, outgoing, polite and soft-spoken, and their grandmother wants them to have the best opportunities life has to offer.
For more information on becoming a mentor to Delila, Alberto, Celeste, Angel or any of the other children still waiting for mentors, please contact Laura Moller-Leon at lmoller-leon@inmed.org or call her at 310-764-0955 ext. 103.
