Mentor 2.0 Program Puts Teens on Path to Success

A program bringing adult mentors together with teenagers facing adversity has taken root in Atlas Preparatory School in Colorado Springs.

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Colorado-Pikes Peak set up the Mentor 2.0 Program, which aims to provide mentor matches with every student moving through the high school off Murray Boulevard in Colorado Springs.

The goals are lofty, but based in forging strong relationships to foster better futures after graduation. Program Manager Nick Maiurro describes how the teens and their mentors work to set goals for the future, which might consist of college, junior college, technical/vocational training or a move into full-time employment.

Maiurro said, “Many of these students might be first-generation high school graduates, so we want to work with them to have success in post-graduation planning.”

Atlas student Bryan Rivera described how he formed a strong bond initially with his adult mentor, Theron Ng-A-Qui, and their additional meetings have served to strengthen the bond.

The mentor pairs meet periodically at Atlas Prep, sharing dinner and supportive strategies.

Student Carolina Rodriguez Talamantes said the meetings with her mentor, Erin Lane, have helped her achieve goals. “At the start of the year,” she said, “I said I wanted to get all A’s and B’s.” After working with Lane on goal-setting, “I got all A’s and B’s,” said Rodriguez Talamantes.

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Colorado serves 2,100 children throughout the state annually and this program’s teenagers are part of that mission. The Mentor 2.0 program helps bridge a critical age where BBBS traditional mentorship programs might not quite address the needs.

“Big Night Out!“, a benefit dinner to help raise money for the BBBS mission, is set for Thursday, October 18th, starting at 6:00 PM at The Pinery at the Hill in Colorado Springs. More information can be found via the link .