Mentoring Opportunities
Nothing changes a child's life like having a good friend. This is especially true for children and youth who have suffered abuse and neglect. UCAN's Mentor Program pairs the talents and interests of successful men and women with the needs of our clients. The program helps young people build positive relationships with adults and broadens a child's social and cultural experiences. In fiscal year 2009, UCAN worked with 127 mentors.
*Please note the mentees names in this article have been changed in order to protect the identity of the youth. 
Chris DuPuis, 33, has been a UCAN mentor for a year and a half. He became involved with UCAN through a friend and subsequently felt compelled to become more involved with his community. He saw crime in the neighborhoods and many youth who just needed someone to talk to, and he wanted to be able to give back in some way. His current mentee is James, who lives with his mother in the Lawndale neighborhood. Chris also works with James' brother Marcus.
"James is a quiet, fun loving kid who has overcome a lot of trials in his life. In the beginning, it was challenging to overcome our communication barrier. I wanted him to reach out to me as I was reaching out to him, but that level of comfort doesn't come instantly. After a few sessions and many text messages, that communication barrier was broken," says Chris.
Chris and James have eaten dinner together, talked about basketball, attended professional sporting events and spent time just talking on the phone or texting. Chris says that James is "one of the most polite people in the world and he is always avoiding the trouble that others his age seem to find themselves in."
Chris and James usually see each other once a month and talk often during the week. Chris has found this experience to be very rewarding and hopes to continue to mentor these boys as they reach various milestones in their lives. He currently lives in the city and practices small animal medicine as a veterinarian in Naperville.
Are you interested in becoming a mentor?
We have multiple opportunities for mentors available at UCAN, whether they are individual relationships or group sessions.
We recommend that a mentor:
- Be 21 years or older
- Have strong assessment and communication skills
- Demonstrate good problem-solving skills
- Be able to commit to at least five hours per month
The selection process includes:
- Submission of an application
- Consultation with UCAN's mentor/volunteer coordinator, Ellen Acevedo
- Completion of mentor/volunteer training
Please contact Ellen Acevedo at acevedoe@ucanchicago.org for more information on becoming a UCAN mentor!
