Arising Dawn Mentoring Program
Meet Dawn,
Dawn is a beautiful vibrant young woman. Dawn had a very troublesome life from the start which landed her as a ward of the state. One would wonder why a child would have to endure so much pain and heartache at the hand of those who were supposed to protect her, love her and guide her. I was given the wonderful opportunity of pouring into Dawn’s life as her foster mother for 3 ½ years. Dawn is full of promise. She is smart, witty and everyone loves her. Yet, no one has a clue of what is going on inside of her. What causes her to act out the way she does? The self-sabotaging, the inability to allow anyone to get close to her, the suicidal tendencies, lack of trust, unwilling to follow rules. Just raw pain. Why can’t she see how beautiful she truly is?
Dawn lost her life in an at-fault car accident at the age of 17, driving without a license, and never having had a driving lesson. She was killed at a time when she should have been at school. Dawn was killed instantly along with one of her passengers. Two beautiful lives cut short.
Click here for the full story
I started this mentoring program “Arising Dawn” in her honor. To ensure that her life was not in vain, to share her story, and to assist in opening the doors to a full and rewarding life for other girls and young women that may endure some of the same challenges. The goal is to help them find their passion, their why. A reason to not just live, but live fully and joyfully.
Arising Dawn is a mentoring program geared towards empowering at-risk girls/young women dealing with and not limited to:
- Suicidal thoughts
- Depression/Anxiety
- Problems at home/school
- Bullying
- Lack of self-worth
- Behavioral problems
- A sense of not belonging
- Violence/Sexual Abuse
We mentor 1 to 1 or in group settings. Our mentors stay committed to their mentees becoming trusted friends, for as long as needed. We help to engage youth in work, school, and leadership opportunities.
One of the best things a mentor can do is listen. Just being there and being a shoulder to cry on or a willing listener to the joys and sorrows can be a real help to anyone.
Mentoring is important and good mentoring is worth its weight in gold!
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