moving forward,

Benson hopes to see the program continue to grow and thrive, adding more mentors and continuing to provide support for youth in our community. She is continuously training in new mentors, who complete a therapeutic training course, which enables them to help their mentees address a number of areas including self-confidence, behavioral issues, academic success and peer relationships.

“There are nine million kids out there that don’t have a trusted adult in their lives,” Benson says. “Anyone who’s passionate about lifting up youth should consider involvement in the program.”

Benson is also trying to connect with local organizations who may want to sponsor an event or gathering to bring mentors and mentees together for fun and relationship building out in the community.

“My personal motto is, ‘See a need — fill a need,’” Benson says, adding that the need is definitely present in our community. Reach and Rise currently has more than 50 youth waiting for their mentor match and Benson says the program is always recruiting new mentors. The program currently has nearly 30 active mentor/mentee matches. She is also launching a new group mentoring program, so mentors can now work with a partner and a group of kids rather than just one-on-one.

“One of my biggest challenges is recruiting mentors,” she says, adding that she would particularly like to see an increase in the number of male mentors involved in the program, with the majority of mentees on her waiting list being boys.

Because of the success of the Reach and Rise program under her lead, Benson has been asked to speak at the National Mentoring Summit this February in Washington, D.C., a conference that is put on by The National Mentoring Partnership. She’ll be presenting to other mental health advocates about the importance of supporting mentors and families who have youth with development or mental illnesses. She is thrilled and honored to be a part of the conference and says the opportunity will her allow to connect and share ideas with mentoring program leaders from across the country.

Benson is continuously and excitedly sharing her passion for youth and the importance of being a guide for them. “Mentoring works,” Benson states plainly. “It works because it’s fueled by the most powerful energy source available to mankind— human connection.”

Benson also reminds others that mentoring is an important and effective tool for adults and professionals as well. “Find a mentor for yourself. Or better yet, a network of mentors in your profession that will be your advisers, your respite and your source of rejuvenation. A good professional mentor is easy to spot; he or she will be a person that allows you to feel your strength, worth and value,” she says, adding that for women becoming leaders, “A true leader is never comfortable with her progress, but rather is continually seeking new challenges and strengthening her team.”

More than anything, Benson wants to remind people that anyone has the capacity to change a life through mentoring — and that everyone has something to give. “We always say you can change a life just by being you,” she says. “It’s cheesy — but it’s true for the kids in our program.”