Mentoring: Creating A Future

Mentoring is one of the single most effective ways to positively change the lives of at risk youth. Attention from a caring adult role model is the hallmark of the Mentoring Program at Harlem Dowling. Each youth in the Mentoring Program is matched with an adult of the youth's choice. The goal of the Mentoring Program is to encourage each youth and his/her mentor to make a commitment of at least one year and to work together developing social skills, setting and achieving career and educational goals, and exploring recreational and cultural opportunities beyond the immediate environment.

Many of our youth have had the opportunity to experience a strong mentoring relationship and commitment that lasts several years. Our mentors come from all walks of life including business, finance, the arts, law enforcement and other careers which provide the perspective for youth to set career goals and dream big.

Our Adoption Mentoring Programs pairs youth who are ambivalent about adoption with caring and supportive adult adoptees. This can be a very rewarding experience for the adoptees as well as the youth who is exploring what adoption means for them and addresses their concerns about remaining connected to their birth family and siblings. Harlem Dowling strongly believes that there is a caring adult for every young person, whether formally through adoption or through lifelong emotional support, nurturance and caring. Our mentors routinely go above and beyond what is expected and required to help their mentees achieve their highest potential. Just being there for youth and being a consistent and caring adult in the life of a young person is one of the most valuable gifts that any adult can give a young person. This, we have proudly achieved with many of our youth at Harlem Dowling.

"Our mentors come from all walks of life including business, finance, the arts, law enforcement and other careers that provide the perspective for youth to set career goals and dream big."