Mentors Make the Difference: How Adult Support Shapes Youth SuccesS

Celebrating the power of mentorship this National Mentoring Month

Every child benefits from having an adult who believes in them, listens to them and helps them find their voice. Those relationships are at the heart of how we support young people to build confidence, set goals and grow them into leaders. Research shows that youth with mentors are more likely to stay engaged in school and make positive choices because mentors offer the support that can change the course of a young person’s life. Mentors help youth feel understood and empowered as they work toward their dreams and navigate life’s challenges.

One of the many adults living out this mission every day is Maya Middlebrook, a Community Engagement Strategist with Turner Construction and a dedicated BGCGC mentor for the past three years. Maya’s commitment to mentoring grew from a lifelong love of helping young people thrive. She has worked with youth throughout her life, dating back to tutoring students in high school, transitioning to college to lead a local STEM program and finishing out by teaching young girls about robotics, anti-bullying and self-empowerment. She has always been driven by a desire to help youth feel safe, confident and free to be themselves. Despite her full-time job and positions on the board of several charitable organizations, Maya still makes time regularly to mentor youth at our Taft Club in Avondale and teens at our new Workforce Development Center in Price Hill. Whether she is discussing college plans, exploring career pathways or just being a positive presence, Maya brings a genuine and intentional approach to mentoring that resonates with the young people in her group.

For our BGCGC mentors, mentoring is not about checking a box. It is about presence, care and belief in possibility. As the oldest of six siblings, Maya grew up taking care of others, a role that shaped her into someone who shows up with patience and presence. Every conversation, every piece of encouragement and every moment spent listening matters to a young person’s journey.

The groups of students that Maya and her team of mentors have worked with over the past several years have had remarkable success with our “Youth of the Year” award. This recognition celebrates Club members who inspire their peers by their involvement in their Club and community, their positive outlook and their leadership skills. Youth of the Year winners are chosen based on service to community and family, academic success, strong moral character, life goals and public speaking ability. Every year, four finalists are chosen from all BGCGC students to compete for a $20,000 college scholarship during a public speaking competition at Great American Ballpark. For the last two years, the winner has been a student from Maya’s group at the Sheakley Club.

Maya and her fellow mentors help students prepare essays, build resumes, practice speeches and refine their stories. She emphasizes that the youth themselves are the authors of their journeys. Sometimes that means pushing them to step into uncomfortable spaces so they can stand taller on the other side.

She is quick to credit Club staff for their dedication, as well as her own mentors, saying that the heart of a young person’s success always comes from the collective support around them.

“Since beginning my career at Turner Construction, I have also been lucky enough to have a team of three key individuals that I have learned a lot from and genuinely look up to,” said Maya. “Kristen Smitherman-Voltaire, Leone Jackson and Brittney Parkinson have always been huge advocates for me and my career, and I wouldn’t be where I am without them creating a seat at the table for me. It is ultimate motivation for me to see my own mentors in spaces that I am working toward being in.”

This National Mentoring Month, we are reminded that everyone has something to offer. Mentors create positive outcomes for mental health, leadership development and long-term goals. Adults who simply show up weekly and listen can become transformative figures in a young person’s life.

If you have ever considered volunteering, even a small commitment of time can make a big difference. You do not need to have all the answers to mentor. You simply need to be willing to walk alongside a young person, celebrate their strengths and support them as they pursue their goals.

“If kids can find the courage to get up and speak in front of hundreds of people, then there is room for every willing adult, no matter their level of comfort with mentoring, to find a way to contribute meaningfully,” said Maya. “I encourage others to always remember there is a student somewhere who is looking for someone who was once in their shoes, standing in a position they aspire to be in. Every experience matters.”

As we look forward to another Youth of the Year award, we celebrate the mentors who stand beside our students. Their belief and support help young people discover not only what they are capable of, but what they deserve for their futures.

If you would like to learn how to become a volunteer or support our mentoring programs during National Mentoring Month, contact Volunteer coordinator jmcginty@bgcgc.org or visit bgcgc.org/volunteer to find out more.