Want to volunteer? Check out these roles.

Mentoring is the heart of Minds Matter’s vision for change. A sustained presence in a student’s life can transform them personally and academically. You’ll see your tangible impact on your students as they learn and grow. You may also be surprised by how much you will grow through the experience.

Mentors are not doing this alone. They are supported in their role by team leads, program heads, writing coaches, summer program heads, college counselors, and staff, but your own experiences in college, career, and life are invaluable. Our program is structured so you can build long-term relationships with your students and other volunteers. What makes a great mentor is an empathetic listener, a willingness to make a long-term commitment, uniting behind the dreams a student has for their future, helping your student turn barriers and challenges into opportunities, and having an openness to learn and grow yourself.

Join a community of like-minded individuals dedicated to overcoming educational inequities.

Time commitment: Attendance of weekly Saturday afternoon sessions (~2 hours) throughout the school year. Touch base with the mentee 1x during the week.

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Our social-emotional learning (SEL) program is called Connections®, a co-facilitated listening circle for our students to share their stories. In addition to boosting mental wellness and personal growth, Connections cultivates students’ self-advocacy, voice, listening skills, and sense of belonging. We need Connections Facilitators to lead these discussions.

Are you an empathetic listener? Do you enjoy self-reflection? Are you comfortable being vulnerable? Can you listen without trying to “rescue” others’ feelings? Can you hold space for others? If you said yes to all of the above, be a Connections Facilitator! As a facilitator, you co-lead a 45-minute to 1-hour Connections circle for a group of 10-15 high school students each Saturday morning. You also collaborate with other facilitators and meet 1-2x a month to ensure consistency of the program, share best practices, and make modifications as necessary. As MMSoCal expands its Connections program, you may be asked to co-lead a community circle 2x a year for the greater Minds Matter community. No prior experience is necessary.

Time commitment: Facilitator training is 16 hours and takes place either 1 or 2 Saturdays at the end of the summer. Attend every Saturday session for 1.5 hours in the morning. Spend 1 hour weekly on the lesson plan.

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