Becoming a YLX mentor....
Commonly asked
questions
What
is Youth Leadership Exchange?
Since
1995, Youth Leadership Exchange has recruited 45 central Oklahoma high school sophomores and juniors
yearly to participate in our Leadership Skills training program. Since 2000 we have also recruited 45 young
men and women (sophomores, juniors and seniors) to participate in our Youth in
Action program. We select students with a balance of experiences and gender, racial and cultural diversity in
mind. YLX helps refine leadership skills
for each of these groups. We expand
their knowledge of the community and the non-profit groups there who need
help. And we expose them to certain life
skills – team building, for instance -- that can enhance their success now and
later on.
Why
does YLX use mentors?
A
number of reasons: First and foremost, a
mentor removes the transportation barrier for students' participation. As a mentor you would give a student contact
with another adult role model. During
the ride to and from class, students have the opportunity to prepare for the
day and then to debrief after the day is over.
Mentors provide students with a more personal relationship with an adult
than one with the Program Co-Chairs. (It's the difference between one-on-one
and one-on-forty-five.) And, finally as
a mentor you can often give us a heads-up on what's happening in a kid's life.
What
exactly does a mentor do?
Mentors
pick up students at their homes and take them to classes in locations all over Oklahoma City. Mentors are welcome but not expected
to stay for class day. At the end of the
day mentors return to the class sites and give students rides home. Mentors never drop a student off anywhere
except his/her home unless it's been cleared directly with a parent beforehand
and it’s not out of the way for the mentor.
In cases where a class member must arrive late or leave early, it
becomes the parent's responsibility to provide transportation. This will be made clear to both students and
parents at the orientation.
Do
mentors select their own class members?
Following
successful completion of their background check, prospective mentors will be
matched with class members. In
mid-October before class starts, we'll host an orientation to which both
students and their parents are invited, just to give everyone an overview of
the year. That will be your orientation,
too, so you can learn the ropes and, also meet your student before you arrive
at his or her door.
What
happens when a mentor can't drive?
Two
members of the Youth Leadership Exchange board serve as Mentor Co-Chairs. It is their responsibility to be sure class
members have rides to every class. At
the beginning of the year, these co-chairs provide mentors with a schedule of
the class days. Mentors also receive a
monthly reminder a week or so before class.
If you get in a jam and can’t drive, you simply call the appropriate
mentor co-chair (men's or women's) and they'll find a substitute. Obviously, we have an ongoing need for
substitutes. If you'd like to be on that
list, just complete and return an application, indicating that you'd like to be
a sub.
How involved does a mentor become in a student's life?
YLX
is asking you to be a role model and a ride and that's it. While some mentors have kept in touch with
their class members through the years, reliable transportation and pleasant
conversation is all we expect. We urge
you not to give students money or large gifts.
It's not common that a child will ask for money, but we have had an
occasion where a parent has asked, such as money to buy a cheerleader
uniform. We can't stop you, but we can
prepare you to say, "I'm sorry but it's against YLX policies to give
students money."
Similarly, we don't expect you to be a social worker. In the fairly unusual case where a child
encounters some awful problem during the YLX year, you can provide phone number
access to help or suggest talking to a counselor. We strongly discourage getting directly involved in any other way.
How
do I sign up?
To
start the ball rolling, simply fill out the Mentor Application Form, including
a photocopy of your drivers' license and your insurance verification.