INCREASED ACCESS TO LONG TERM SUPPORT Youth report gaining increased value from the mentoring relationship the longer it lasts.48 Additionally, young people have generally positive perceptions of mentoring and believe in the power of connections to help them achieve their goals but are also interested in their adult mentor’s motivations for mentoring.49 Consistent, sustained relationships developed through a work-based learning opportunity are better positioned to authentically build trust between mentor and mentee while fostering greater long-term benefits.50 The connection between a mentor and mentee can serve as the center point in a web of connections, that have the ability to positively impact a young person’s long-term success. A mentor is uniquely positioned to connect the mentee to people in their network, which supports a young person in creating “weak ties”, a type of connection that is especially useful in the job search.51 This is critically important for young people who reside in “high unemployment areas”, where there are fewer adults who can make introductions that expand career awareness and job prospects for youth.52 A sustained relationship between a mentor through a work-based learning opportunity offers a consistent support and direct access to an anchor throughout a young person’s career journey while also expanding their network over time. But, the lack of access to mentoring relationships is a pressing problem: 1 in 3 young adults surveyed nationally as part of a 2014 Mentor study reported not having access to a mentor of any kind.53 This fact, coupled with our increased understanding about the role social capital plays in long-term
“My Big Peter and the Workplace Mentoring Program exposed me to office culture and what a professional setting looks like. I’ve carried all the skills I’ve learned through my first year of college.” - Little Brother Osmar
success, especially for low-income youth,54 requires a City-wide solution that balances in-demand skills development with our referral based, relationship-centric job market. Beyond the opportunities to directly connect to the next generation of potential employees, bringing PYD principles into the corporate space through a relationship-centered program has the potential to foster a greater sense of inclusion and more equitable accessible access to living
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