Proactive approaches to educational and social development are necessary for youth.
Partners Mentoring Youth, a program based in Fort Collins, is predicated on creating meaningful relationships between adults and youth, striving to create a community based on inclusion and diversity.
Partners works to prepare at-risk youth for adulthood through mentoring relationships, community partnerships and prevention education. The life-long bonds created through this program are profound.
There are specific criteria, including time requirements, for becoming a youth mentor to ensure that these relationships are as beneficial as possible.
Elizabeth Williams, associate professor and director of graduate studies in the Department of Communication Studies, has worked with Partners both as a long-time supporter and donor.
“The goal of Partners is to connect youth and community members to empower them to reach their potential. Through their programming, Partners builds the confidence and skills of both the youth participants and the adults who mentor them,” Williams said.
Partners has a slew of events throughout the year aimed at increasing fundraising and extending the reach of the program.
“My family supports Partners through their annual fundraising event, Party for Partners, which occurs each May,” Williams said. “Additionally, I was one of the lucky winners of the NoCo Grocery Grab last year. This was an event modeled after the game show SuperMarket Sweep and occurred at Lucky’s Market. It was an incredible event, and I encourage everyone to purchase an entry for this year’s Grab, which will occur April 2.”
While fundraising for Partners is imperative, the success stories serve as resounding image of the program’s ambition. Every year, more than 830 youth show improvement in confidence, social skills, decision-making and bonding with adults. These numbers are not possible without concerted effort from the community and dedicated individuals such as Williams.
“In addition to events aimed at raising funds to support programming, there are also different volunteer opportunities throughout the year. And of course, becoming a mentor is the ultimate way to support this organization,” Williams said.
Partners stands as a beaming example of the impact that proactive approaches to youth mentoring can have on a population.
“The success stories that are shared at Partners events are inspiring and highlight the life-changing impact that these mentoring relationships can have,” Williams said. “Partners is an organization that will continue to lead the way for youth empowerment in our community and provides community members an opportunity to grow as well.”
For more information on Partners Mentoring Youth and how to help make a difference, visit poweredbypartners.org.
