THE SONOMA VALLEY MENTORING ALLIANCE
Changing the world right here at home
The Sonoma Valley
Mentoring Alliance invests in the future of the community by creating and
supervising long-term relationships between caring adults and at-risk school
children in need of academic and social support. This is done through
one-on-one or group mentoring.
Each week in the Sonoma
Valley, more than 400 children have a very special appointment. They are
meeting with their mentor. Usually, they get together at the Mentor Center.
There is a Center located at each of Sonoma’s 8 public schools. The Mentor Center is a warm friendly
environment, with toys, games, academic support materials and special projects. Each center also offers the assistance of a
trained, professional Mentor Facilitator.
What do Mentors do? They listen. They care. They show up each
week. They take a real interest in the child they are mentoring. They also
often join the Enrichment Activities offered by the Mentoring Alliance each week.
These include cooking classes, art classes, fitness activities, career
explorations and cultural field trips.
Mentors enjoy sharing in a child’s success. Many students with a Mentor
are doing better in school, are happier, and are striving to continue their
education by going on to college.
Many times in our
community a child needs a helping hand. It may be school struggles, or family
hardships. Whatever the need, a caring, responsible and reliable adult can help
keep a child from sinking into despair and failure at school and in life.
Mentors make a difference. And very often, a Mentor finds that the relationship
they build with a child becomes a very meaningful and rewarding part of their
own lives. Mentors are every day heroes.