Childhood & Community Education

Mentoring for At-Risk Youth (Embracing Our Youth)

INMED’s Embracing Our Youth mentoring program provides a positive adult role model to children of state and federal prisoners in order to break the cycle of violence, substance abuse and criminal involvement that commonly leads to intergenerational incarceration. Through the program, volunteer mentors provide a positive adult role model for youth with incarcerated parents, help promote emotional stability and improve self-esteem among these children, connect families with supportive community resources, and promote civic responsibility among mentored children by providing opportunities to volunteer in the community. Read our July 2010 Calendar of Events and come get involved. Video: Mentoring Children of Prisoners Big Brothers Big Sisters, Southeastern Pennsylvania. INMED and the Embracing Our Youth program are not associated with Big Brothers Big Sisters

Download: Why be a mentor?

I need a mentor!

Debbie is a 13-year-old African American teenager. She originally signed up with the program a little over 2 years ago. She’s been matched twice, but both times the match ended prematurely when the mentors were unable to fulfill the commitment. So we’re looking for that “3rd time’s a charm” mentor for her!! 
Debbie lives in a foster home with her guardian, an elderly woman with limited physical mobility. Debbie says she wants to “experience adventures,” and she enjoys going to the circus and movies. She also likes music, drawing and science experiments. She also enjoys being active by playing basketball and tennis. 

Despite how her first two matches have ended, Debbie still has hopes of finding that perfect mentor, one who will be consistently in her life. Are you that special friend Debbie has been waiting for?

For more information on becoming a mentor, please call Sedreana Saldana at 310-764-0955 ext. 127 or e-mail her at ssaldana@inmed.org.

Embracing Our Youth Mentoring Program - March Match Highlight—Craig and Zakir

Mentor Craig and Mentee Zakir are our match highlight for the month of March. Craig has already seen his mentee mature and grow into a young man from the time of their match in November 2009.
 
Mentor Craig says the program has “allowed me to share what God has blessed me with and to touch a young man’s life as he has touched mine.”
Craig also says, “Zakir is a bright, engaging young man and easy to befriend. He has become like a son or little brother to me and has enriched my life.”

When I asked him what has been the most memorable time he’s had with Zakir, he said it was at a Youth Sunday, where the youth lead praise and worship and give testimonies. He said Zakir read a poem that included how he felt the church welcomed him and treated him as a family member from the moment he arrived. A part of Zakir’s poem also described their relationship and what Craig meant to him. Craig said it was “extremely moving and brought me to tears.”

On the other side, Mentee Zakir said that being matched with Craig “has changed my life tremendously. I say this because he introduced me to God where I was able to actively participate and engage in the Christian community. I felt I became holistic because I had found my overall purpose in life.”

When I asked him about his favorite time with Craig, Zakir said, “The best time we've had together from my perspective was probably when we went fishing. I say this because we got to spend quality time together, and I felt like I had an actual father figure for once in my life, one I knew would be there for the long run.”

Zakir said that one of the most valuable lessons Craig brought to his attention was to always have “integrity,” which to Zakir 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. Zakir says he “love[s] him dearly” and says he prays that their relationship continues to grow.

 For more information on becoming a mentor, please call Sedreana Saldana at 310-764-0955 ext. 127 or e-mail her at ssaldana@inmed.org.

Archived Mentoring Match Highlights