The SMILES Mentoring Program helps to empower youth in our community to make positive life choices that enable them to maximize their potential. The mentoring program recruits adult volunteers who commit to supporting, and guiding a young person for a period of at least one year for a minimum of one hour per week.

By becoming part of the social network of adults and community members who care about the youth, the mentor can help youth develop and reach positive academic, career, and personal goals.

• Mentor Role
  Mentors take the lead in supporting a young person through an ongoing, one-to-one relationship. They serve as a positive role model and strive to build mutual respect, self-esteem and motivation. A volunteer mentor helps to set healthy goals and work toward accomplishing them.
   
• Time Commitment
  Mentors make a one year commitment and spend a minimum of one hour per week one-to-one with a mentee. In addition, SMILES offers optional mentor/mentee group events, mentor support groups, and program recognition events