FFSC Mentoring Launches Its Second Round!

Over 40 youth and volunteers gathered at New Designs Charter School on Saturday, June 11th for Second Chances Mentoring Program's second round of mentorship this year! Despite a gloomy morning, eventually the sun came out and teams of mentors and mentees engaged in a little healthy competition.

From he Name Game to the Final Relay Race, teams got to know one another and work together in order to send their Mummies through the finish line, morph themselves into Rocks and Caterpillars, tie balloons with one hand, and share pieces of themselves while munching on M&M's. Check out some of the action below!

2011 Round 2 Mentor Mash Up!

Second Chances Kick Off Hall of Fame!

Destiny, Natalie, Marilyn, Nala, Vanessa, Kubrat, & Mindy

Karim, Sinque, Chad, Drew, & Jesse

Isaiah, Eddy, Davontre, Richard, Benjamin, Maurice, & Jeremiah

Essence, Kelly, Dayjah, Tanisha, Katherine, Beth, Caroline, & Princess

Breana, Danielle, Claudia, Brenda, Crystal, & Ashley

We can't wait to see everyone again at Chuck E. Cheese on the 25th for our 3 rounds of Speed Mentoring!

FFSCM Speed Mentors at Chuck E. Cheese!

This past Saturday, February 26, our new mentors and mentees met up once more at Chuck E. Cheese for three rounds of Speed Mentoring! Mentors and mentees matched off, and spent time shooting free-throws, playing skee-ball, and winning tickets at various games throughout the late morning and early afternoon. After playing games, mentors and mentees sat down together, asking and answering questions like the ones below!

Describe your ideal day with a mentor. What would you want to do?

Go to the beach - Isaiah, Age 7

Go out to eat and talk - Ny'Breya, Age 12

What is something you're good at?

Drawing - Hilary, Age 8

Football - Robert, Age 8

Mentors will be notified of their matches at their upcoming Match Meeting, and thus concludes our first Kick Off of 2011! As always, much credit is due to our amazing mentors, who will have an incredible impact on their mentees' lives over the course of the next year. And much love to Program Staff, for ensuring a great event for all our kids and mentors!  

Ready... Set... Kick Off!

On Saturday, February 12, Foundation for Second Chances Mentoring (FFSCM) launched its first round of mentorship at La Cienega Park! It was a beautiful day in Beverly Hills, and our mentors and families arrived with an appetite for healthy competition, and not to mention a delicious potluck lunch.

From the Name Game to the Final Relay Race, teams got to know one another and work together in order to send their Mummies through the finish line, morph themselves into Rocks and Caterpillars, tie balloons in a line with one hand, and share pieces of themselves while munching on M&M's.

A preview of more pictures coming soon!

FFSC Mentoring Now Accepting Mentor Applications!

 

Foundation for Second Chances Mentoring is now accepting Mentor Applications! FFSC Mentoring provides a unique opportunity for caring adult volunteers to befriend children with incarcerated parents in the Los Angeles community. Our mentors come from all different backgrounds, professions, and experiences, but all of them have the desire to invest their time and heart into our youth.

Mentors and mentees participate in a special matching process through our group Kick Off events. Mentors and mentees meet for the first time at our Mentor Mash Up, getting to know each other through relay races, icebreakers, and team building activities! Two weeks later, everyone pairs off for each of our 3 rounds of Speed Mentoring at Chuck E. Cheese. Mentors and mentees then fill out individual match surveys, choosing who they feel is their best match!

After finding each other, mentors and mentees commit to their mentoring relationship for 1 year, only 6-8 hours per month. Mentors and mentees embark on one-on-one outings of their choosing and at the times best for them, and mentors may also help mentees keep a connection with their incarcerated parent. FFSC Mentoring also hosts optional but fun monthly group outings to bring the mentoring family together! These outings are a great opportunity for mentees to foster relationships with other youth and adults, as well as a great way for mentors to network with other mentors.

Our next round will be launching in March 2011, with Mentor Orientation & Training Sessions starting in January 2011. Don't wait until the last-minute--get the application process started this month! For more information regarding FFSC Mentoring and the application, please contact Program Manager Laura Petry at laura@ffscinc.org OR by phone at (213) 627-1745. You can also fill out a brief intake survey HERE.

Mentor Mash Up at La Cienega Park!

It was a beautiful Saturday morning on July 31st at La Cienega Park in Beverly Hills, where Second Chances Mentoring Program launched its second round of 2010! From the Name Game to the Final Relay Race, teams got to know one another and work together in order to send their Mummies through the finish line, morph themselves into Rocks and Caterpillars, tie balloons in a line with one hand, and share a piece of themselves while munching on M&M's.

SCMP Kick Off Highlights








Hall of Fame

Mentors and mentees will meet one last time before finally being matched! We can't wait to see all of you at Chuck E. Cheese next Saturday, August 14th for our Speed Mentoring event!

SCMP's Chuck E. Cheese Take Over

This past Saturday, March 13th, Second Chances Mentoring Program (SCMP) hosted its first Speed Mentoring event of the year at Chuck E. Cheese's in Los Angeles! Mentors and mentees matched off, and spent time shooting free-throws, playing skee-ball, and winning tickets at various games throughout the late morning and early afternoon. After playing games, mentors and mentees sat down together, asking and answering questions like the ones below!

What would you like to be when you grow up and why?
I would like to be a chef because I like to cook with my grandma and for my mom and dad. - Stephanie, age 9

A helicopter pilot, so I can see Earth from the sky and birds. - Francisco, age 10

What would your ideal day with a mentor be?
Going out to a museum and then going out to eat. - Taylor, age 9

Play football. - Jesse, age 9

Mentors will be notified of their matches tomorrow, and thus concludes our first Kick Off of 2010! As always, much credit is due to our amazing mentors, who will have an incredible impact on their mentees' lives over the course of the next year. And much love to Program Staff, for ensuring a great event for all our kids and mentors!

Ready... Set... Kick Off!

On Saturday February 27th, Second Chances Mentoring Program held its largest Kick Off event to date! Our Team Building in the Park event was originally scheduled to take place at La Cienega Park, but with thunderstorms looming and a flurry of phone calls, we shifted scenes to the cafeteria and playground at 42nd Street Elementary School. A fantastic effort was made by parents and mentors to attend, and over 50 mentors and mentees came to meet each other for the first time.

Despite the rain, everyone had a great energy, connecting and having fun through a series of games and team building exercises. From the Name Game to the Final Relay Race, teams got to know one another and work together in order to send their Mummies through the finish line, morph themselves into Rocks and Caterpillars, tie balloons in a line with one hand, and share a piece of themselves while munching on M&M's.

SCMP Kick Off Hall of Fame

Click on any picture to view a larger version

Much thanks to Program Manager Tiffany Ferrara, my booming voice, as well as all of our incredible mentors and parents for an epic launch for 2010's first round of mentors! Our group will rendezvous once more on March 13th, when we take over Chuck E. Cheese for our Speed Mentoring event! Till then...