To celebrate 25 years of mentoring, we talked with some of our friends here in Pittsburgh to learn more about how mentoring has impacted their lives.  Take a look at this growing collection of stories below!

Gregg Behr

TMP hosted "Future Focus: Take Your Mentee to Career Day," an event where youth were given the tools and knowledge to help them prepare now for their future aspirations.  Workshops and interactive activities helped students learn more about different careers and how they can begin to work toward their goals today.  Hear what attendees had to say about why mentoring is important and what they like about their current mentors in this audio captured by Saturday Light Brigade.

As the President of Community College of Allegheny County, Dr. Alex Johnson has the responsibility of overseeing the education of 63,000 adult learners in this region. Yet despite this massive task, he finds time to mentor a sixth-grade student.

Dr. Johnson was matched with Aujah in the fall of 2009, and together, they discussed her aspirations, goals and other matters relevant to her success in school and life. He challenged Aujah to set and achieve goals, and he worked diligently with her to build her math and communication skills. Also, recognizing that many other students may have the same educational reinforcement needs as Aujah, he designed a math camp at CCAC for 7th grade students to adequately prepare them for successful entrance into the 8th grade.

Gwen's Girls is a nonprofit organization that works with girls ages 8-18 to teach them the importance of self-sufficiency through education, love and support. Jaquayla lives at the Gwen's Girls residential group home. She was matched with a caring adult volunteer named Melanie. Melanie and Jaquayla meet weekly to take walks and hit the gym together. While there, Jaquayla talks to Melanie about everyday things. Now, Jaquayla is living a healthier lifestyle while having the opportunity to talk with her mentor in a safe and confidential setting.

LaMont entered the Amachi program three years ago, unsure of what his mother signed him up for. "Amachi? What is that?" he asked himself. It was explained to him that "Amachi" is a Nigerian Ibo word that means "who knows what God has brought us through this child." The Amachi mentoring program was developed to provide at-risk children with positive direction by establishing the consistent presence of loving, caring people of faith.

LaMont knew very little about mentoring, but because he never knew his father, he was excited to have a male role model in his life. Mike, a young man right out of college, was selected to be LaMont's mentor. Since their match, the two have become good friends. Going to concerts is their favorite activity. Through Mike, LaMont has experienced many new things. He knows he can turn to Mike with any problems he faces.