Making Connections: Mentoring Program in Action

East End House is committed to growing the number of youth in high quality mentoring relationships. Research shows that committed mentors can have an enormous impact on the life of a young person.

Ismail and his mentor, Michael have been matched for nearly a year. In that year Ismail has improved his organization in school, tried new things, and this summer they were chosen as the winners of Mass Mentoring's Fenway Mentoring Night. The pair attended the game and Ismail read the starting line-up on TV! Check out an interview with the pair by East End House staff.

What is your favorite mentoring memory?
Michael: We had a great trip to see an Imax movie about Antarctica. Ismail kept me entertained with running commentary the whole time.
Ismail: My favorite mentoring memory was when I announced the starting lineup of the Red Sox team on TV. I was nervous and I got more nervous when I learned I had to do it alone.

What have you learned from each other?
Michael: Because I'm not around people his age much, Ismail reminded me how complicated and interesting the lives of young people are, in a lot of ways much more complicated than being an adult.
Ismail: I learned a lot of things from my mentor and one advice that helped me throughout the school year was getting everything organized. I was so messy I couldn't keep track of my school work.

Name three things you appreciate about each other.
Michael: Ismail's creativity is great. I am always amazed how much writing he produces and how detailed his stories are. Ismail has a strong sense of himself and his identity, he does not let other people define him. Ismail has a great sense of humor.
Ismail: I appreciate that he is great at giving advice, that he is a cool guy to hang out with and my favorite one is that we went to a lot of places and got to do a lot of new things.

The Mentoring Program is hitting the ground running this fall. We are delighted to have Liz Looker, an AmeriCorps Ambassador of Mentoring, with the program for the entire year. Liz will be help to recruit new mentors and create training curriculum. Join us in extending her a warm welcome!