An Open Connection to Guidance and Caring

As most of us grew up and made important life choices, we had multiple resources and ready access to sound advice. But that isn't the case for kids living in poverty.

Not surprisingly, mentoring programs are known to be among the most powerful techniques for lifting young people out of poverty and into productive lives. These programs are most effective when there is frequent interaction between mentor and student. Yet kids living in poor neighborhoods are often the farthest removed from busy professionals who can provide the expertise and guidance they need. Both mentors and students want to connect - but how?

Interactive Pathways to Knowledge and Success

iMentor is delivering mentoring programs with a difference: It combines traditional face-to-face meetings with ongoing email lessons and correspondence to allow for more frequent and effective interaction between mentor and student.

iMentor collaborates with 15 schools and educational groups to bring its online mentoring curriculum to nearly 500 disadvantaged students each year. Partner organizations provide weekly access to a computer lab and an instructor. iMentor facilitates the collaboration by pairing students with mentors and delivering weekly discussion guides on topics ranging from college preparation and career planning to creative writing and computer technology.

iMentor brings students and mentors face-to-face at 40 events each year. Participants are also given the opportunity to strengthen their relationships by joining in a variety of activities like sporting events, museum visits, theater performances, and guest-speaker lectures.

Through the innovative use of technology, iMentor is making mentoring programs available to a vastly larger number of disadvantaged youth - and helping connect them to a brighter future.

"iMentor matched me up with a mentor that was right for me and now I have someone that I can ask for help when I need it. It's like having the older sister I always wanted!"

-Katherine