Youth Ambassadors of Mentoring are leaders and changemakers!
- The Youth Ambassadors of Mentoring (YAM) are on a mission to change how mentoring programs serve youths.
- MENTOR Virginia’s Youth Ambassadors of Mentoring are empowered to promote change and raise awareness about issues impacting them and their communities.
- Youth Ambassadors provide valuable feedback about mentoring practices that affect them and serve as advisors to MENTOR Virginia.
- Ambassadors have the opportunity to engage in advocacy efforts, relevant discussions, and monthly training programs for about 6 months–or more.
- Ambassadors strive to build partnerships with young individuals, adult decision-makers, and youth mentors.
Program At-A-Glance
YAM is a 6-month program consisting of a combination of in-person convenings and virtual training
There will be opportunities to participate in Capitol Hill Day in Washington, D.C. and Advocacy Day at the State Capitol
YAM will be awarded a stipend for successfully participating in the program
Ambassadors will have access to advocacy professionals who will serve as mentors during monthly check-ins
There will be collaborative learning and leadership opportunities
Elevating Youth Voices:
Why It Matters
The impact of mentoring relationships is amplified when mentors are equipped to provide meaningful guidance. Elevating youths’ voices ensures that our organization can both identify current and future needs and develop best practices to address them.
MENTOR Virginia fosters a welcoming and inclusive environment that engages a broad network of stakeholders and centers the needs of young people by sharing power with and creating leadership opportunities for youths. And Youth Ambassadors are a big part of it by helping us establish the structures, goals, and activities for them to learn from and be supported.
Why Become
A Youth Ambassador?
Youth Ambassadors of Mentoring will gain leadership skills and experience while amplifying their voices for the benefit of themselves and their peers. During their term as Ambassadors, the group will engage in numerous activities that can help them acquire in-depth knowledge on mentoring relationships and programs, and how they can contribute to program improvement.
Ambassadors will have the opportunity to engage with students just like them from different backgrounds and locations. The group will have opportunities to lead youth forums and plan and collaborate on meaningful projects.
“MENTOR Virginia has given me exposure to inequities around my community and provided invaluable experience engaging with Congress on Capitol Hill Day. The program has given me a platform where I felt my voice mattered and that I was helping make an impact that would benefit my peers around Virginia. The community I’ve formed with both the adults in charge and other student ambassadors allowed me to come out of my shell and form lasting friendships. I’m grateful for the knowledge and support I’ve gained with MENTOR Virginia leaders and look forward to continuing being an ambassador next year!"
“Being on Capitol Hill and having personal interactions with the Senators' and Representatives' staff was very rewarding, and I felt as if I was truly making a difference rather than merely discussing the problem. Capitol Hill Day was fun, inspiring, and surreal! Great to meet people we could relate to and talk to those in authority who were interested in solving the problems we talked about.”
