Seedling Foundation Needs Mentors

For a child who has an incarcerated parent, a Seedling Foundation mentor can be the impetus to transform a childhood of worry, sadness, and insecurity to one of hope—giving the child the bravery and confidence to reach his or her highest potential. Now more than ever, the Seedling Foundation needs mentors to connect with children.

Seedling’s mission is to support children challenged by parental incarceration with innovative, research-driven, schoolbased mentoring. But they can’t do it alone! Over 680 children were served this past school year through a well-trained and supported force of volunteers. With a staff of 13, the volunteers were recruited, trained, and matched to bring hope and resilience through one-on-one weekly visits during a student’s school lunch period. Local professionals on Seedling’s roster of volunteers include a range of diverse individuals from every walk of life— from doctors, lawyers, judges, and engineers to housewives, government employees, restaurant owners, and retirees.

“I can tell you, as a judge who presides over foster kids, how much joy it gives me when I know they have a Seedling mentor to stand with them. Building trust, confidence, and self-esteem is so important when kids have felt abandoned and left alone.” –JUDGE DARLENE BYRNE

Judge Darlene Byrne, 126th Travis County Civil District Court and Seedling Foundation Advisory Council member, had this to say to the mentors: “I just want to take a moment to thank you [mentors] for showing up for kids. I can tell you, as a judge who presides over foster kids, how much joy it gives me when I know they have a Seedling mentor to stand with them. Building trust, confidence, and self-esteem is so important when kids have felt abandoned and left alone. Their school has changed time after time and yet their Seedling mentor shows up tirelessly every week just because they matter.”

With COVID-19 confining us to our homes, Seedling worked nonstop to reconnect mentors with the children. Seedling’s staff worked hand-in-hand with school faculty at over 150 public and charter schools to help locate children missing from the rosters of elementary, middle, and high-schools in the greater Central Texas area.

With COVID-19 confining us to our homes, Seedling worked nonstop to reconnect mentors with the children. Seedling’s staff worked hand-in-hand with school faculty at over 150 public and charter schools to help locate children missing from the rosters of elementary, middle, and high-schools in the greater Central Texas area. Additionally, as schools were forced to move to a digital format of online lessons and classes, Seedling focused on supporting its mentors with weekly videos and words of encouragement and appreciation for their dedication to their mentees. In the midst of all the chaos of school closures, and thanks to school contacts working closely with Seedling mentor directors, 275 children served before COVID-19 were reconnected with their mentors.

With the hope that August brings wellness, the welcome return of students to their schools, and reunions of mentors with mentees, Seedling is planning business as usual: A reconnection of children to professionals willing to spend one 30-minute lunch a week with the child of an incarcerated parent. But in case that scenario doesn’t play out, Seedling is preparing alternative ways to build connections outside of the brick-and-mortar classroom.

A virtual info session is being planned for members of the Austin Bar Association to learn more about how they can help. Stay tuned for information on how to attend the virtual info session, to be held in late August or early September.

There are many ways to help Seedling through these troubling times. The need for mentors will always be first and foremost. The upcoming info session will address how to become a mentor and, for those who have schedules that don’t permit a weekly 30-minute commitment as a mentor, other opportunities such as becoming an ambassador, serving on a committee, or contributing financially to the organization will be discussed. To learn more about Seedling, visit seedlingmentors.org or email Linda Thompson at Linda@seedlingmentors.org. AL