Volunteer Mentor

The Volunteer Mentor role is the heart of Minds Matter Colorado. It requires empathy, teamwork, consistency, and kindness. This is extremely rewarding as you build relationships within your 2 mentees and co-mentor and as you cultivate a community with the other mentees and mentors in your class.

Success in this role looks like building a supportive relationship, offering guidance, and sharing your experiences and expertise over students’ 10th, 11th and 12th grade years. You will play a crucial role in empowering and guiding mentees from low-income backgrounds on their journey to and through college.

Summary

Mentors ground their mentees in the Minds Matter Monday night experience. Supported by volunteer program leaders who facilitate a prepared curriculum, Mentors engage in conversation and connection building while drawing from our shared goals. Mentors don’t need to be experts in the following topics – they need to be willing to show up consistently and work through the prepared activities together.

• Establish a Mentoring Relationship: Build a trusting and supportive relationship with your assigned mentee(s). Establish regular communication channels, including in-person meetings, phone calls, or virtual sessions. Create a safe and inclusive environment that encourages open dialogue and active engagement.
• Academic and College Guidance: Help your mentee set academic goals and develop strategies to achieve them. Support your mentee in applying to and attending on-campus summer experiences. Provide guidance on college exploration, applications, essays, and financial aid resources.
• Personal and Leadership Development: Support your mentee's personal growth by fostering self-confidence, resilience, and self-advocacy skills. Encourage participation in extracurricular activities, leadership roles, and community service opportunities. Help them identify and build upon their strengths, interests, and career aspirations.
• College Readiness and Transition: Assist your mentee in researching and selecting colleges that align with their goals and interests. Guide them through the college application process, including creating a timeline, completing applications, and understanding admission requirements. Offer support on how to transition from high school to college, addressing challenges and providing resources.
• Attend Mentor Training and Program Events: Participate in initial mentor training sessions provided by Minds Matter Colorado. Attend regular mentor workshops, diversity-focused training, and check-ins organized by Minds Matter Colorado. Collaborate with other mentors and staff members to enhance the mentoring experience.

Time Commitment

• Commit to joining your mentees as they make their way through the MMCO program for 2 - 3 years
• About 23 Mondays from 6-8 pm during the school year (September through May)
• Attend All Volunteer Training 2 x per year (Spring + Fall)
• Mentoring typically involves a commitment of approximately 8 - 10 hours per month during the academic year. Minds Matter Colorado does not host programming during the summer or whenever school is out of session (winter break, spring break, etc.). The long-term time commitment is 2 - 3 years. We’re asking students to commit to 3 years of the program, so a matching commitment of support from caring adults is what we’re looking for.

Locations

The MMCO Program takes place on-site, in-person, so mentors and mentees can build strong, long-term relationships. You would commit to one of the following locations for your full time as a mentor in the program:

• Aurora West College Preparatory Academy - 10100 E 13th Ave, Aurora, CO 80010
• Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Early College - 19535 E 46th Ave, Denver, CO 80249
• George Washington High School - 655 S Monaco St Pkwy, Denver, CO 80224
• West High School - 951 Elati St, Denver, CO 80204 (mentor spots at this location are VERY limited)