MENTORING

Mentor one child, change two lives.

Every young person needs guidance, encouragement, and a sense of belonging. Too many students face challenges that make it hard to stay focused and motivated – academic struggles, family responsibilities, or limited access to supportive adults.

Mentoring provides stability and hope. A consistent, positive relationship with a caring mentor helps students develop confidence, make healthy choices, and envision a future filled with opportunity.

At Chautauqua Striders, mentoring is about connection, not correction. It’s about helping youth discover their strengths, build resilience, and feel seen, heard, and valued.

How Our Program Works

Our mentoring program matches K–12 students across Chautauqua County with caring adults who provide guidance, advocacy, and support. Mentors meet with students one-on-one, in schools and community settings, to:

  • Celebrate progress and achievement
  • Set academic and personal goals
  • Develop social and emotional skills
  • Encourage healthy decision-making

We offer several mentoring models designed to meet students where they are.

Our Mentoring Models

Community-Based Mentoring

This program gives mentors and mentees an opportunity to experience the community. Whether you go to the park and play basketball, go to the library to check out some new books, or visit a local college to check out the campus, the focus is on experiencing resources in our community. This program offers mentors flexibility in meeting with mentees on weekends and evenings and enjoying time together.

School-Based Mentoring

This program gives mentors and mentees the chance to meet with each other once a week during the school day. Mentors and mentees play games, share weekly updates of life, and build a positive productive friendship.

Project-Based Mentoring

For our college and high school aged mentors, Chautauqua Striders Project-Based mentoring offers participants the chance to be a mentor without the long term commitment of a traditional mentoring match. Mentors meet with mentees in small groups and work on projects developing relationship and communication skills. Each session lasts between 6 and 12 weeks, perfect for those looking to develop leadership skills and provide support and encouragement to an area youth.