one to one mentoring program

Buddies for Life

One to One Mentoring is a program that empowers youth ages 5-18 in San Miguel County and the West End of Montrose County to achieve their social, emotional and academic potential through professionally-supported mentor relationships.

One to One Mentoring was founded by two staff members from the San Miguel County departments of Social Services and Juvenile Diversion in 1994 under the Durango, Colorado Big Brothers Big Sisters’ framework for one-to-one community-based mentoring. It later became part of Partners of Montrose-Delta-Ouray counties and finally became independent in 1999. The pair saw the opportunity to deepen wrap-around care for at-risk youth by introducing youth mentoring to the county.

Since its inception the program has served thousands of youths throughout the county. Presently, the opportunities addressed through the organization’s programs continue to focus on at-risk youth but have expanded to include a diverse array of needs including LGBTQ support, grief counseling, chronic health issues, and a need for companionship. The organization is the only provider of one-to-one youth mentoring in the county.

According to Executive Director Tara Kelley, “The process of becoming a mentor is easy. Applications are online. Once you fill out an application, you will be interviewed, do a background check, and then will be matched with a youth in our community with which you share common interests.”

“Many people are extremely busy and that is the first thing they tell us, ‘I just don’t have time,’ ” Kelley said. “What one of our mentors said years ago that I tell potential mentors, ‘if you have time for friends, you have time to be a mentor,’ ” she added. “The goals of the organization contribute to the health of our society as a whole and as community members, we can contribute to that.”

Kelley said, “Mentoring impacts the Telluride community by helping youth have a trusting adult in their lives. It gets adults involved with youth, doing activities throughout our community. We all need mentors in our life, and by becoming mentors, you are helping a child have a consistent adult in their lives. We have many children on our waitlist and are always looking for mentors, especially male mentors. Being a mentor only takes a couple hours a week.”

According to Kelley, One to One Mentoring is grateful for matches that demonstrate the benefits of mentoring. During her and her husband Scott Kelley’s tenure here in Telluride, they have seen the benefits and inspiration that comes from mentoring.

Three years ago, “Ben”, the middle of three children living in a single-parent immigrant household in Mountain Village, was a fifth grader suffering from extreme shyness, lack of confidence and anxiety to the extent that he struggled with basic communication. Ben found making friends challenging because he was unsure how to talk with other children and struggled to make academic gains, to manage his schoolwork, and to interact in the classroom.

Ben was subsequently matched with a retired couple who have adult sons. Their early goals included modeling communication and social interaction, as well as introducing Ben to outdoor activities and the area’s natural environment, in neither of which he had any experience. Their first outing was to Bridal Veil Falls, where Ben expressed surprise that there was a waterfall. Over time, Ben has become more communicative and outgoing, and has made social and academic gains – aided in part by his mentors taking him to get eyeglasses so he could see the board in his classroom. He has also grown into an avid skier and mountain biker, pursuits he enjoys doing with his outdoorsy mentors.

Kiplynn Smith Dan Henschel

Imet my buddy when she was in the sixth grade. She was bright and funny, but needed a little help finding the confidence necessary in order for her to be able to show the world what she had to offer. We skied, hiked and baked together. Once we even won the most creative sled in the annual Cardboard Sled Derby, a fundraiser held by the One to One Mentor program. As she was exploring her interests and finding her strong qualities, she decided she wanted to take an art class. Somehow, we were able to talk an Ah Haa art teacher into allowing me, a 38-year-old, to join her class that was meant for fourth- through eighth-graders so we could be together. When my mentee entered high school her schedule was really tight, so we thought it would be best if I helped coach her volleyball team. I didn’t really even know how to play, but at least I would be there to help her through the trials and triumphs of becoming a teenager. Some of my fondest memories are from when we would meet at the Cornerhouse and play games like Farkle, or create stories out of emojis and then read them back to each other. It was incredible watching her blossom as the years went on; her social anxiety waned and her athleticism shined. Learning that she determined she could attend college was just icing on the cake. Not that she necessarily wanted to go to college, but that she now had the confidence and knew she had options in life as an adult meant that she was going to show the world who she is and what she can offer.

Iwas matched with Robert over 20 years ago with the One to One program. Though the program only runs through high school, Robert and I have carried on our friendship that endures today. Robert is now 32 years old and gainfully employed in a management position with a local lodging entity. I’m proud of the responsible man he’s become and the One to One program played a large role in that. As a long-time mentor and board member of One to One, I can say with confidence that mentoring works. I’d encourage anyone to get involved with One to One, whether becoming a mentor or simply donating financially to the program.

It’s no surprise then that Ben’s older brother, “Alex”, soon expressed interest in (and has since been matched with) a mentor. Alex, whose summer job was at a well-known Mountain Village restaurant, was matched with a mentor who is the young executive director of a local conservation nonprofit that is working to connect the local immigrant community to the outdoors. One recent activity? A traverse of the area’s iconic Via Ferrata, which Ben and Alex took part in, together with Alex’s mentor and members of the immigrant community. Ben now wants to scale the Via Ferrata again, this time with his own mentors.

“Connections like these do not happen without One to One Mentoring, the only organization of its kind in San Miguel County and the West End communities of Montrose County,” Kelley said.

“We just finished our most successful fundraiser, that we have not been able to do for two years due to Covid, Top Chef and Taste of Telluride, which is held in August. Our next big event in March is the Cardboard Sled Derby. This is truly the only event in Telluride that is all about the kids and is one of our most successful,” Kelley said. “Our main goals are to keep finding mentors and matching adults with youth in our community. We are continuing to grow in the West End and we hope to continue to grow in San Miguel County.”

Kelley added that the One to One team is most proud of their long-term matches. Nationwide most matches last for nine months, and their average match lasts over three years. They also have many past matches that have grown out of the program, but they are still connected in their adult life. *Check out the special breakout segments of personal testimonies from our own brokers, Dan Henschel and Kiplynn Smith, on their life-changing experiences through the program.

Top on her wish list for the future? “I would like to see a youth center that would also house One to One so our matches have a place to meet and do activities. It would also be a place for kids to have somewhere to go after school with supervision,” Kelley said.

Kelley added, “You can get involved by becoming a mentor. Or if you don’t want to become a mentor but want to help One to One, you can volunteer for our fundraisers and group activities or assist by donating,”

ONE TO ONE MENTORING STAFF

Tara Kelley, Executive Director tara@onetoonetelluride.org

Adrienne Christy, Program Manager adrienne@onetoonetelluride.org

ONE TO ONE MENTORING OFFICE

100 West Colorado Avenue, Suites 204 & 203 Telluride, CO 81435 second floor of The Wintercrown Building. Use the stairs in the breezeway across from Community Bank.

PHONE

970-728-0885

MAILING ADDRESS

One to One Mentoring PO Box 1574 Telluride, CO 81435