Become a Mentor: Elevate Your G.A.M.E.

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Through mentoring, Elevate Your G.A.M.E. is lifting urban youth to higher levels in their Grades, Attendance and Maturity to Empower them to be leaders. Elevate Your G.A.M.E. conducts mentoring programs at urban high schools in the Los Angeles area, specifically in Compton, Long Beach and Lynwood. Approximately, 300 urban teenagers are mentored each year.

Elevate Your G.A.M.E.'s mentors are adults and students who undergo comprehensive screening and training. They meet with participants once a week for one hour in classrooms and libraries in the host schools. The 9th - 12th grade participants (of all ethnicities, though primarily African-American and Hispanic) discuss with their mentors a variety of academic and character topics. Topics discussed in mentoring sessions include: educational achievement, respect, perseverance, integrity, responsible behavior, conflict resolution, time management, nutrition and physical fitness. In addition, mentors help students to develop career goals. Occasional guest speakers address some of the above topics or expose the students to their professions.

During the summer, Elevate Your G.A.M.E. conducts a Summer Internship Project. In this program students are given internship opportunities with businesses and government agencies that expose them to various career possibilities. Approximately 35 - 45 high school students participate in this program each year. Participants, also, attend weekly job-training sessions throughout the summer.

Mentors for the Elevate Your G.A.M.E. program are expected to have a desire to serve, motivate and encourage urban youth to excel in their academics and character. They must feel comfortable having a conversation with high school urban youth (not lecture them), and must be people of high moral character who will be excellent role models for the mentees to emulate. All mentors will have to undergo a background check that is administered through the Compton Unified School District, which involves a live scan of their fingerprints. Also, mentors are required to complete an application and training before beginning their service.

Mentors are expected to do the following:

* Faithfully meet with mentees at appointed times (once-a-week at school location)
* Fulfill commitment to the program and to his/her mentees for at least a year
* Adhere to the guidelines of confidentiality and wisdom
* Attend the initial and ongoing training sessions
* Conduct oneself in a mature and professional manner
* Speak words of affirmation and encouragement to the mentees




Seeking Female Volunteers: Yes

Seeking Male Volunteers: Yes

Minimum Match Commitment (in months): 12 months or longer

Type of Mentoring: Group, Peer

Youth Population Served: Academically At-Risk, Gang At-Risk, Gang involved, General Youth Population, Gifted/Talented/Academic Achiever, Low Income

Mentoring Program Goals: Education/Academic Support, Friendship/Socialization, Healthy Behaviors

Ages of Youth Served: 15-18