Youth Mentoring Connection
"Saving two lives at a time"
Programs and results
What we aim to solve
Our programs
What are the organization's current programs, how do they measure success, and who do the programs serve?
Mentoring for underserved Los Angeles Youth
Since 2001, Youth mentoring Connection (YMC has positively impacted over 8,000 vulnerable youth through dedicated and caring adult mentors who provide long-term consistent support and guide them toward developing positive characters, good decision-making skills, enhanced self-esteem, and bringing their gift into the world.
Community-Based Mentoring Programs
Community-based mentoring programs match at-risk high school and middle school students with caring adult volunteers for highly structured and supported mentoring programs.
• Children’s Hospital, as part of the Mayor’s Gang Reduction Youth Initiative
• California Community Foundation (CCF), as part of PAT (Preparing Achievers for Tomorrow) increasing youth participation in organized sports, music and recreation in Los Angeles which includes our Surf Program
• L.A. County Probation Department, to identify and recruit young black males and redirect them through employment and education opportunities through the CCF BLOOM (Building a Lifetime of Options and Opportunities for Men) initiative.
Youth Support
Intensive staff support for youth in mentoring programs who are in crisis. Support includes: counseling, transportation, housing referrals, and intensive mentoring and guidance by YMC Youth Support Workers, known as the "street team."
Activities to Enrich Mentoring / "Virtual" Teen Center
Surfing Summer Mentoring program, serving over 200 mentees each summer in collaboration with Boarding House Mentors and Stoked Mentoring
Winter snowboarding trips, in collaboration with Boarding House Mentors and Stoked Mentoring
Urban Oasis Film Academy, offering mentees the opportunity to create and produce a short film
ECHO, a gender-specific discussion group for teens
Free tickets for mentors and mentees to local sporting and arts events
Mentee Initiation Retreat
This flagship YMC program offers an intense, 4-day experience which prepares youth to enter their mentoring relationships. 100 high school-aged mentors and mentees travel with staff and mentors to Big Bear each fall to participate as a community in vital rites of passage missing from our society.
Specific Retreat Program activities include: Ice breaker (get to know each other) activities, Drumming, Reading, Poetry Writing, Mask and Gift Making, Horseback Riding, Conquering a Ropes Course and a Rock Wall, Nighttime Campfire Story Telling, Nature Hiking, Singing, and Tolerance, Conflict Resolution, and Violence Prevention Workshops.
YMC Surfing Program
Due to socio-economic conditions in urban communities, youth are increasingly becoming disconnected from positive and healthy pursuits. Too often they turn to the influences of drugs, alcohol, violence or gangs. The surfing community that we create connects with at-risk youth through the exhilaration of surfing in order to broaden their life experiences with positive, healthy, non-competitive activities that may have a significant impact on their self-image and self-confidence.
Youth involved in our surfing programs learn the sport in a fun, supportive environment under the supervision of experienced surfers who share the positive impact that surfing has had on their lives.
The program runs 6 Sundays a summer for 60-70 youth. YMC provides transportation; insurance; and staff members to coordinate the transportation, releases, equipment set-up, surf boards, rash guards, water & food, canopies, and volunteers on the day of the event.
To date, over 1,000 youth have participated in this transformative surfing program. For many of our youth, this means seeing the beach for the first time in their lives and others, who did not know how to swim, learning to be comfortable in the water. Our youth face enormous obstacles and live in high crime areas where they are constantly exposed to gangs, drugs, and violence. Surfing is a retreat from the daily environment they face, and many use the sea to heal their wounds.
Where we work
Awards
In Recognition of Youth Mentoring Connection Day 2005
City of Los Angeles
External reviews
Our results
How does this organization measure their results? It's a hard question but an important one.
Evaluation documents
Download evaluation reportsNumber of youth who demonstrate that they avoid risky behaviors
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Population(s) Served
Adolescents, At-risk youth, Economically disadvantaged people
Related Program
Community-Based Mentoring Programs
Type of Metric
Outcome - describing the effects on people or issues
Direction of Success
Holding steady
Context Notes
83% of mentees reported they are more likely to avoid violence
Number of youth who demonstrate that they have developed healthy relationships
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Population(s) Served
Adolescents, At-risk youth, Economically disadvantaged people
Related Program
Community-Based Mentoring Programs
Type of Metric
Outcome - describing the effects on people or issues
Direction of Success
Increasing
Context Notes
92% of YMC youth reported an increase in their ability to get along with people from other backgrounds and 93% reported and increase in communication skills.
Number of youth who demonstrate that they avoid using illegal substances
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Population(s) Served
Adolescents, At-risk youth, Economically disadvantaged people
Related Program
Mentoring for underserved Los Angeles Youth
Type of Metric
Outcome - describing the effects on people or issues
Direction of Success
Holding steady
Context Notes
70% of mentees reported they are less likley to use drugs.
Number of mentored graduated high school seniors enrolling in college or trade school
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Related Program
Community-Based Mentoring Programs
Type of Metric
Outcome - describing the effects on people or issues
Direction of Success
Holding steady
Context Notes
88% of mentees who graduated high school enrolled in college.
Number of mentored high school seniors graduating high school
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Population(s) Served
Adolescents, At-risk youth, Economically disadvantaged people
Related Program
Community-Based Mentoring Programs
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Holding steady
Context Notes
96% of mentees that were high school seniors graduated.
Number of youth who demonstrate that they have developed coping skills
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Population(s) Served
Adolescents, At-risk youth, Economically disadvantaged people
Related Program
Community-Based Mentoring Programs
Type of Metric
Outcome - describing the effects on people or issues
Direction of Success
Increasing
Context Notes
80% of youth increased their ability to self regulate their emotions; 94% increased their ability to positively react to challenges.
Goals & Strategy
Reports and documents
Download strategic planLearn about the organization's key goals, strategies, capabilities, and progress.
Charting impact
Four powerful questions that require reflection about what really matters - results.
What is the organization aiming to accomplish?
YMC’s overarching goal is for at risk youth to find stability and support systems to guide them on a path toward healthy lifestyles and educational, personal, career, and economic achievement in adulthood. YMC exists to help its youth overcome the obstacles they face and understands the important role that education plays in accomplishing this.
What are the organization's key strategies for making this happen?
YMC's mentoring model incorporates the following programs that lead to achieving our goal:
Mentoring Program -- Our model of mentee/mentor recruitment and training, group and 1:1 mentoring, case management, staff monitoring, life skills workshops, parental involvement, and rap sessions produce program outcomes that surpass national averages. Mentoring programs are held at our offices, corporate sponsors, and community centers throughout Los Angeles each year.
Mentee Initiation Retreat -- 100 youth spend four days in the mountains in a gender separated journey of self-discovery, healing, and awareness. This initiatory experience is followed by nine months of consistent, powerful, and directed mentoring provided within a support system of guidance and counseling.
Urban Oasis Film Academy -- For 3 months, 4-8 hours per week, youth are empowered with the tools, knowledge, and instruction required to express themselves in the film medium, giving voice to their stories, while also awakening the possibility of employment in the film industry. Many of the participants go on to study or work in the area of writing or filmmaking or are offered an internship by one of our corporate sponsors.
Surf Program -- For 6 Sundays, 60-70 youth are transported to the beach during the summer for a day of surfing. YMC combines our community mentoring model with the exhilaration of board sports in the spirit of "Sawubona" (South African Zulu word for "I see you") and the Aloha spirit (attitude of friendly acceptance and a powerful way to resolve problems, accomplish goals, and achieve a positive state of mind). Youth feel the support of a caring community, develop greater self-confidence, and make life-changing choices.
Urban Oasis Youth Center provides youth a connection to YMCs core mentoring, other programs, youth support, and positive youth development activities. It is a place where YMC partners can provide youth services and classesincluding our long-time partners Street Poets to provide creative expression through poetry and Rhythm Alliance to teach African Drumming circles and dance. There are computer stations for schoolwork and job searches; a space for on-site counselling; space for creative expression such as dance, music, and film; recreational activities; on site therapists; dedicated on site staff including a UO manager and Resource coordinator; community resource fairs; and so much more.
What are the organization's capabilities for doing this?
Youth Mentoring Connection is governed by a board of directors that provides leadership, determines policy, and ensures that the mission of the organization is fulfilled. The CEO and Founder, Tony LoRe, oversees the entire program and its planning, implementation, and evaluation. In addition to the hundreds of volunteers that serve as mentors, he is assisted by the Director of Programs, Juliana Wells; the Program Manager, Derrion Wyatt; the Accounting Manager, Ingrid Hernandez; and 6 program assistants and coordinators. And 450 volunteers assist our staff and board with meeting our goals.
The key elements of YMC's approach to mentoring are Initiation, Instant Community, A Gift Centered Approach, and Innovative Mentoring. Our model provides consistent supervision of our mentor matches by staff, and the minimum commitment level for the matches to meet is once per week via phone, Skype, or face-to-face, plus once every other week face-to-face in a facilitated group meeting. Most of our matches continue to see each other throughout the year, and approximately 85% return to the formal program when it starts up again. The majority of our matches make lifelong relationships.
What have they accomplished so far and what's next?
YMC's goal for this year is to grow our programs and reach across Los Angeles and increase/diversify funding streams. YMC expanded our staff to include the Director of Impact & Partnerships and Director of Operations to take the lead on these goals. YMC is adding new corporate, school, and CBO partners to increase mentors, mentees, and resource partnerships. The organization also invested in a donor CRM and is in the process of developing a fundraising strategic plan.
How we listen
Seeking feedback from people served makes programs more responsive and effective. Here’s how this organization is listening.
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How is your organization using feedback from the people you serve?
To identify and remedy poor client service experiences, To identify bright spots and enhance positive service experiences, To make fundamental changes to our programs and/or operations, To inform the development of new programs/projects, To identify where we are less inclusive or equitable across demographic groups, To strengthen relationships with the people we serve, To understand people's needs and how we can help them achieve their goals
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Which of the following feedback practices does your organization routinely carry out?
We collect feedback from the people we serve at least annually, We take steps to get feedback from marginalized or under-represented people, We aim to collect feedback from as many people we serve as possible, We take steps to ensure people feel comfortable being honest with us, We look for patterns in feedback based on demographics (e.g., race, age, gender, etc.), We act on the feedback we receive
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What challenges does the organization face when collecting feedback?
We don't have any major challenges to collecting feedback
Financials
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Operations
The people, governance practices, and partners that make the organization tick.
Connect with nonprofit leaders
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- Analyze a variety of pre-calculated financial metrics
- Access beautifully interactive analysis and comparison tools
- Compare nonprofit financials to similar organizations
Want to see how you can enhance your nonprofit research and unlock more insights? Learn More about GuideStar Pro.
Connect with nonprofit leaders
SubscribeBuild relationships with key people who manage and lead nonprofit organizations with GuideStar Pro. Try a low commitment monthly plan today.
- Analyze a variety of pre-calculated financial metrics
- Access beautifully interactive analysis and comparison tools
- Compare nonprofit financials to similar organizations
Want to see how you can enhance your nonprofit research and unlock more insights? Learn More about GuideStar Pro.
Youth Mentoring Connection
Board of directorsas of 02/20/2024
Mallary Resinick
Senior VP Corebridge Financial Attorney
Term: 2023 - 2025
Julie Zwissler
Chief Marketing Officer Fabric Space
Term: 2023 - 2025
Linda LoRe
InJoy Global
Tony LoRe
COO/Founder - Youth Mentoring Connection
George Shohet
Law Offices of George A. Shohet
Jeff Teich
VP Legal Affairs - Warner Bros.
Paulette Pantoja
CEO/President - BluFocus
Erin Hiley
VP, Sr. Legal Counsel - American Specialty Health
Mallary Reznik
SVP & Deputy General Counsel AIG Life and Retirement
Larry Baird
Chief Marketing Officer - TV4 Entertainment, COO - Screambox
Board leadership practices
GuideStar worked with BoardSource, the national leader in nonprofit board leadership and governance, to create this section.
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Board orientation and education
Does the board conduct a formal orientation for new board members and require all board members to sign a written agreement regarding their roles, responsibilities, and expectations? Yes -
CEO oversight
Has the board conducted a formal, written assessment of the chief executive within the past year ? Yes -
Ethics and transparency
Have the board and senior staff reviewed the conflict-of-interest policy and completed and signed disclosure statements in the past year? Yes -
Board composition
Does the board ensure an inclusive board member recruitment process that results in diversity of thought and leadership? Yes -
Board performance
Has the board conducted a formal, written self-assessment of its performance within the past three years? Yes
Organizational demographics
Who works and leads organizations that serve our diverse communities? Candid partnered with CHANGE Philanthropy on this demographic section.
Leadership
The organization's leader identifies as:
The organization's co-leader identifies as:
Race & ethnicity
Gender identity
Transgender Identity
Sexual orientation
Disability
We do not display disability information for organizations with fewer than 15 staff.
Equity strategies
Last updated: 10/20/2022GuideStar partnered with Equity in the Center - an organization that works to shift mindsets, practices, and systems to increase racial equity - to create this section. Learn more
- We analyze disaggregated data and root causes of race disparities that impact the organization's programs, portfolios, and the populations served.
- We disaggregate data to adjust programming goals to keep pace with changing needs of the communities we support.
- We employ non-traditional ways of gathering feedback on programs and trainings, which may include interviews, roundtables, and external reviews with/by community stakeholders.
- We disaggregate data by demographics, including race, in every policy and program measured.
- We have long-term strategic plans and measurable goals for creating a culture such that one’s race identity has no influence on how they fare within the organization.
- We seek individuals from various race backgrounds for board and executive director/CEO positions within our organization.
- We have community representation at the board level, either on the board itself or through a community advisory board.
- We engage everyone, from the board to staff levels of the organization, in race equity work and ensure that individuals understand their roles in creating culture such that one’s race identity has no influence on how they fare within the organization.