One Mentor. One Life Changed.
Every young person deserves someone in their corner. Through our mentorship program, we pair at-risk youth with trusted adults who help guide, encourage, and empower them every step of the way.
Trusted Connections That Transform Lives
Strong, positive relationships are the cornerstone of change for justice-involved and parenting youth. Our mentors provide more than just guidance — they offer consistency, trust, and a listening ear in a world that often overlooks these young voices. Through mentorship, youth gain confidence, learn accountability, and feel seen in their struggles and achievements. This foundation becomes a turning point in their journey to stability and self-sufficiency.
Our Comprehensive List of Mentorship Services
We’ve developed a dynamic mentorship framework that addresses a variety of needs — from emotional support to goal planning.
- One-on-One Mentorship Matching: Youth are thoughtfully matched with trained mentors based on their background, interests, and life experiences for lasting, meaningful relationships.
- Life Skills & Career Coaching: Mentors assist with resume writing, interview prep, and soft skills development, helping youth build pathways to employment and independence.
- Peer Mentorship Opportunities: Those who have successfully navigated the program are invited to mentor others, creating a circle of empowerment and community ownership.
- Ongoing Mentor Training & Supervision: All mentors receive trauma-informed training and participate in regular check-ins to ensure consistent, high-quality support.
- Group Sessions & Community Engagement: Our program includes monthly mentor-mentee events to build trust, community connection, and shared learning experiences.
Why Do At-Risk Youth Need Mentorship?
Mentorship provides at-risk youth with a consistent role model who offers guidance and direction in times of uncertainty. For many of these young people, a mentor becomes a trusted source of wisdom and emotional support, crucial for overcoming trauma or challenges. Mentorship bridges the gap between where they are and where they could be, fostering personal growth and resilience.
Who Are Our Mentors?
Mentors are carefully vetted individuals — community leaders, educators, professionals, and formerly justice-involved adults — who want to give back. They bring empathy, life experience, and time, making them a crucial part of each young person’s success story.
Eligibility Criteria
We welcome youth who are ready to make a change and benefit from caring mentorship.
- Age Range: 16 to 24: Our program supports youth in the transitional stage from adolescence to adulthood.
- Justice-Involved Youth: Young people impacted by the criminal justice system are prioritized for mentorship to help break cycles of incarceration.
- Pregnant and Parenting Youth: We pair young parents with mentors who understand the unique challenges of raising a child while navigating life’s obstacles.
- Homeless or Housing-Insecure Youth: Mentorship offers stability and guidance when other systems fail to provide consistent support.
- Motivated for Personal Growth: Applicants must be open to developing themselves through positive relationships and feedback.
Success Stories & Impact Metrics
“Every Step Forward is a Victory.”
Since its founding in 2024, Support the Block has worked tirelessly to create a space for young people to thrive, rebuild their lives, and reach for brighter futures. Here are some of the success stories that showcase the immediate, life-changing impact our mentorship program has had on the lives of at-risk youth:
Impact Metrics
Lives have been reshaped through meaningful mentorship relationships rooted in consistency and compassion. Young people who once faced isolation now speak with confidence, seek employment, return to school, and contribute to their communities. The program continues to foster healing, reduce trauma, and open doors that were once shut. It is this ongoing transformation that drives our mission forward every single day.
Volunteer With Us
Be the change you want to see in a young person’s life. Our mentors play a life-changing role in building trust, structure, and success for youth in need.
How You Can Help:
- Become a Mentor – Share your time and experience to guide a young person’s journey.
- Host a Skills Workshop – Lead workshops on topics like financial literacy, health, or job readiness.
- Support Peer Mentorship – Assist in developing youth-led initiatives and leadership groups.
- Join Monthly Events – Help organize and participate in community bonding experiences.
Donate to Support the Block
Support the Block is seeking partnerships and funding opportunities to launch our pilot mentorship initiative and sustain our life-changing programming. Your contribution directly supports mentor training, youth engagement activities, and the long-term stability of our most vulnerable community members. Call 703-727-9084 or email: [email protected] to learn how you can partner with us today.