Youth Mentor

Purpose: The position of a Denver Urban Scholars mentor is to help a youth establish positive goals and be successful in a high performing middle school or high school. With a high school diploma, our scholars have the opportunity to go to college, get better jobs and lead more productive lives. The program is designed to provide support in all areas of a student's life – emotional, social, and academic.

Location: Denver Urban Scholars partners with schools that share a desire to support underserved youth in Denver, Adams, Arapahoe and Jefferson counties. Our goal is to help each scholar in our program earn a high school diploma from a top-performing school. With their high school diplomas, our scholars have a better opportunity to participate in higher education, obtain meaningful employment and lead fulfilling lives.

Our current school partners are:
• Denver School of Science & Technology
• KIPP Denver Collegiate High School
• KIPP Sunshine Academy
• La Academia at Denver Inner City Parish
• JK Mullen High School
• Venture Prep High School
• St. Rose of Lima School
• Bishop Machebeuf High School
• Arrupe Jesuit High School

Key Responsibilities: Mentors are expected to support their students around academics but are also asked to spend quality time with their student outside of the school setting, based on their similar interests and schedules. The mentor will be matched with a middle school or high school student and will be asked to complete the following:

• Attend the Denver Urban Scholars Mentor Orientation (new mentors only). Attend four hours of training per year.
• Initiate weekly phone contact with the mentee.
• Spend time with the mentee at least twice a month based on shared schedules and shared interests.
• Maintain contact with the assigned case manager. The case manager is there to help when there are challenges in the relationship but also wants to hear when things are going well in the relationship!
• Make all efforts to attend Denver Urban Scholars events with their mentee – Outward Bound (new students and their mentors only), social activities, workshops, college visits, etc.
• Support and encourage the mentee in his/her personal and academic goals.
• Be a positive role model for the mentee.

Reports to: Each Denver Urban Scholars mentor and mentee pair will be assigned a case manager for support and information.

Time Commitment: Denver Urban Scholars asks that all mentors make a one-year renewable commitment to their youth. The vast majority of our mentors choose to stay with their mentee throughout high school.

Qualifications: There is no formula for the "perfect mentor" but we do ask that the person be ready to make a personal commitment to making a difference in the life of a young person. Qualities that some of our strongest mentors possess include:

• Are BOLD and are risk-takers – Not afraid to have "tough conversations" with their youth!
• Are committed to making the time with their mentee
• Are not easily discouraged
• Are able to form new relationships easily
• Are patient
• Don't take things personally
• Are emotionally confident and stable with who they are
• Are dependable. Show up when they say they are going to! Call when they say they are going to!
• Have good communication skills
• Are good listeners

In addition, mentors must be able to pass a background check (including fingerprinting), have a valid driver's license, be 21 years of age or older. College degree is preferred.