The Mentoring Center

03/31/2022

We're ending Women's History Month by recognizing EMERGE - an educational program of The Mentoring Center that helps girls and young women graduate from high school and go on to pursue college and/or careers.

EMERGE provides a healing, culturally-rooted learning environment for our students and support and community for our alumni. Learn about EMERGE and support our wonderful girls and young women! https://mentor.org/emerge/

Follow EMERGE on Instagram at

Happy Women's History Month!

11/30/2021

This , Give to Greatness by supporting The Mentoring Center's young people!

10/22/2021

The Mentoring Center (TMC)

We're so grateful to continue to be part of the MBK network in support of our boys and young men!

Founded in 1991, The Mentoring Center (TMC) was created to serve as a technical assistance and training provider for Bay Area mentoring programs, and expanded to provide direct services soon thereafter.

12/01/2020

Giving Tuesday is here! For many organizations, provides an opportunity for organizations engage donors and supporters by uplifting the powerful work we are doing.

On this year, The Mentoring Center is launching our 30th Days to 30 Years to begin our march to our 30th anniversary in January 2021. Every Tuesday of this month, we will highlight one of TMC's core programs. You'll have the opportunity to learn about each program and its impact, support programs directly, and meet some of our amazing youth and young adults who share why each program has so important to their transformation. Connect with us throughout December and learn how your donations:
• Support a young woman who has struggled with her education, but now is working hard to graduate from high school.
• Help boys and young men develop their leadership, skills, confidence, and positive self-identity.
• Keep youth and young adults safe by supporting violence prevention through mentoring and personal and community transformation.
• Expand The Mentoring Center's impact by supporting the Transformative Mentoring training and technical assistance we provide to youth-serving agencies and institutions, nationally.
• Make sure that our youth continue to have a safe space where they are loved and encouraged, where they are connected to caring adults, and where they have an opportunity to learn, grow and thrive.
This year, with COVID-19, the exposed racial injustices, the economic crisis, and the resulting increase in violence, our youth need your support more than ever.

You can contribute to one of our core programs directly, or to The Mentoring Center overall work. (Just indicate how you want your donation dedicated.) Funds raised will go directly to support youth and their families. Please consider a donation of any amount today and throughout December, and help our youth realize their innate greatness and unlimited potential!

Donate here: https://donatenow.networkforgood.org/1429363

Thank you for your generosity and support.

With gratitude,

The Mentoring Center

08/10/2020

Please join the National Black Women's Justice Institute (NBWJI) and The Mentoring Center™ on August 12th for : A Virtual Conversation on Creating Safe and Healing Spaces for Black Girls. Register here: https://aspaceforgrace.splashthat.com/

In the midst of a global pandemic, "Grace", a 15-year-old Black girl was remanded to a youth detention center for failing to complete her online homework, a violation of the conditions of her probation. At an early release hearing, the judge told Grace that, "she was right where she needed to be” and was "blooming” in detention. Thanks to advocacy and organizing, Grace is finally at home with her mother. But Grace's experience is not unique. Her case brings to light the numerous ways in which our juvenile legal system fails our girls, often opting to subject them to excessive punishment rather than provide support and resources that nurture their growth and development. Join us as we discuss the significant harm that the juvenile legal system poses to Black girls and their families and what needs to change.

05/06/2020

Today is ! You may be wondering how you can support our youth during this unprecedented and uncertain time. The COVID-19 pandemic continues to affect our communities and our youth who are more likely to be impacted more severely. We need your continued support!

Almost 30 years ago, The Mentoring Center was created to help youth reach their unlimited potential and innate greatness. Since our founding in 1991, we have provided Transformative Mentoring™️ for thousands of youth and young adults. Did you know that The Mentoring Center:
• Helps reduce recidivism and truancy, and increased attendance and achievement for the thousands of youth who have participated in our program? (Youth and Young Adult Life Coaching and Case Management)
• Leads an academic program that helps girls who have struggled with their education graduate from high school and prepare for college? (EMERGE)
• Provides Transformative Mentoring™ that teaches youth decision-making, critical thinking, leadership skills, and self-sufficiency? (Transformative Manhood Group)
You can contribute to one of our programs directly, or to The Mentoring Center, generally. (Just indicate how you want your donation dedicated.) Funds raised will go directly to support youth and their families who are struggling during this economic and health crisis.

Please consider a donation of any amount today and throughout 2020. Donate here: https://donatenow.networkforgood.org/1429363

Thank you for your support during this critical time. Your donation will make a huge difference for our youth and their families!

02/25/2020

Mary Beatrice Davidson

Do you know about Mary Beatrice Davidson?

The Sanitary Pad was developed by a black woman named Mary Beatrice Davidson. Until sanitary pads were created, women used all kinds of reusable fabrics to absorb menstrual flow. Mary's invention was initially rejected. The first company that showed interest rejected it because of racial discrimination. The world had no choice, her invention was too important to be ignored. It was later accepted in 1956, 30 years later.

She received five patents for her household and other personal item creations. One of her inventions is the bathroom tissue holder, which she co-invented with her sister. The patent number was US 4354643, dated October 19, 1982.

02/25/2020

Throughout Black History Month, we've been posting staff pics for Black history figures. We continue today with two new posts:

Paul Robeson - Multi Genius: Academician, Athlete, Activist, Actor

Paul Robeson was born April 9, 1898 in Princeton, New Jersey. The son of a former enslaved African. Paul Robeson was a straight "A" student from grade school through College. Graduated Valedictorian from Rutgers University and with a Law Degree from Columbia University.
Paul Robeson was a four-sport standout at Rutgers University in Track, Baseball, Basketball and a two time All-American in Football. A world traveler who considered himself a "Citizen of the World" Robeson Spoke 16 languages and would perform his concerts in the language of the Country in which he was performing. Targeted by the United States Government for his outspoken opposition to Jim Crow laws and Government Sanctioned Lynching, he defended himself in the Joe McCarthy Lead Senate Hearing on Un-American activities. During the height of his success, Robeson was one of the highest paid performers in the World, performing before crowds of more than 40,000 people.

Paul Robeson our 20th Century Multi Genius

12/03/2019

Today is the day of global-giving where people all over become a part of causes that matter to them. Today is the opportunity to invest in our youth and their futures.

What matters today is not to give the most, but to get involved.

Donate any amount today to help and remember that it's because of people like you, that we can continue our work every day.

11/07/2019

Glad to share our EMERGE Program to the interested community at Girls Inc in Oakland.

03/12/2019

The Mentoring Center mourns the passing of Lynette Gibson McElhaney's son, Victor. We are deeply saddened and shocked by this tragic and heartbreaking loss of one of Oakland’s own, a young, beautiful, talented, and bright activist, dedicated to changing the world through his music.

We remain committed to doing the work that will make our homes, our streets, our neighborhoods, and our communities safer and healthier for our youth. They deserve the best we have to give, and we will continue our fight, with love.

Though there likely are no words that can give comfort, we offer our deepest and most heartfelt condolences, prayers, support and love to Councilmember McElhaney, Victor’s family, his friends, and to all of those he touched. May his spirit continue to be a bright light that guides us all.

The Mentoring Center Family❤️

02/21/2019

The closing plenary begins with a session on how this movement can embrace and be inclusive of women and the LGBTQ community as part of this work.

02/20/2019

Susan Taylor, Victor Cruz, and his protege, Eddie Cuba, talking about the importance of mentoring.

02/20/2019

Hearing the powerful words of Zinnia Alejandro, whose organization in Puerto Rico, Acuerdo de Paz, is doing the work of violence prevention in her community.

02/20/2019

Day 2 of got us all going with some great drumming! Looking forward to the morning session on mentoring and violence prevention.

02/20/2019

02/20/2019

TMC is proud and honored to be part of and witness all of these beautiful and brilliant boys and young men of color asking President Obama and Stephen Curry important questions.

02/19/2019

Arrive as Many. Rise as One. Welcome to MBK Rising!

The Mentoring Center is proud to partner with Urban Strategies Council on the MBK Challenge grant and to participate in this week!

Welcome to MBK Rising!, a two-day convening that will bring together in Oakland the growing network of MBK Communities, elected officials, cross-sector leaders, and young men of color and the organizations working hard to help them achieve their dreams.

02/13/2019

Why Juvenile Detention Reform Matters - The Annie E. Casey Foundation

Our youth deserve better, healthier solutions.

Detention is a pivotal decision point in the juvenile justice process. Even a short turn in confinement can have an outsized influence on court outcomes, and it can also mean profound and potentially lifelong negative consequences for the young people involved, according to research.

02/06/2019

Join us as we celebrate Black History Month!

The West Oakland Youth Center will feature 20 Days Of Blackness!

** BLACK WALL STREET **
Financing Workshop for Credit Repair & Preparing Us for the New California ID.

Date: Tuesday February 12,2019
Time:7:00 pm-9:00 pm
Location: West Oakland Youth Center 3233 Market St,Oakland,Ca 94608

Sponsors:20 Days of Blackness BHBMPI,Fam 1st Foundation & WOYC

This is a FREE EVENT!
For more information please contact
Ms. Howard: [email protected]

02/04/2019

Urban Strategies Council

Urban Strategies Council

Urban Strategies Council’s mission is to eliminate persistent poverty in the Bay Area by working with partners to transform low-income neighborhoods into vibrant, healthy communities.

01/21/2019

looks like...EMERGE!! Where we educate Black girls and young women in a healing space so that they can create their own transformation!

01/16/2019

It's National Mentoring Month!!

The Mentoring Center will be uplifting the importance and the impact of mentoring all month long. We'll be posting stories, videos and pictures that highlight mentors and mentoring relationships and welcome you to join us by posting the same, right here on TMC's page.

Happy National Mentoring Month!!