A key reason for the success CIR has achieved over the years is the matching of our students with volunteer mentors. Our original model of a single mentor having two mentees has worked very well. However, our rapid growth has led us to identify two additional mentor models. In the first, a number of mentors meet with a larger number of students (typically 2-3 mentors with 5-7 mentees) on a monthly basis for 90 minutes after school. The second new model is done virtually, allowing mentors to connect with students and still be able to "meet" with them from afar using technology. 

Our staff leads the monthly group mentor sessions using grade-specific content to ensure that all mentees in the program are being exposed to key topics at the right time in their high school careers. We expect many of these mentors will begin to develop individual mentor/mentee relationships with some of the students and provide additional mentoring in between the scheduled monthly meetings.

Sources of mentors for these sessions can be employee groups from local companies (as is the case with companies such as PG&E, PwC, and Blake-Griggs Properties), individual volunteers new to CIR, as well as some of our existing mentors who may want to participate in the monthly group mentoring sessions either in lieu of or while continuing their current mentor relationships.

Whether as an individual, group, or virtual mentor, all mentors will have the satisfaction in knowing the significant and positive impact they will have on their mentees’ academic and life direction.