YMCA highlights Reach & Rise® mentoring program during National Mentoring Month
Reach & Rise® is a free, therapeutic mentoring program that supports youth in the community.
January is National Mentoring Month, a time to recognize the life-changing impact that supportive, trusted adults can have on young people. In recognition of the month, the YMCA of Western North Carolina is highlighting its participation in Reach & Rise®, a national YMCA mentoring program designed to strengthen relationships, build confidence, and expand opportunities for youth across the region.
Nearly one in five young people in the U.S. grow up experiencing poverty or other barriers that can affect educational and career outcomes. Research consistently shows that having a caring adult mentor can help young people build resilience, improve academic engagement, and develop critical life skills.
Reach & Rise®, supported by the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP), connects trained adult co-mentors with small groups of youth ages 6 to 17 for structured mentoring cycles lasting 8 to 16 weeks. Through shared experiences and relationship-building activities, youth are supported in developing social-emotional skills and a stronger sense of belonging.
“National Mentoring Month is a powerful reminder that showing up consistently for young people can change lives,” said Melissa Wiedeman, vice president of youth development at the YMCA of Western North Carolina. “Through Reach & Rise®, we’re creating space for meaningful connections that help youth feel supported, valued, and confident as they navigate school, relationships, and their future.”
As part of the Y’s commitment to advancing youth development and equity, Reach & Rise® is designed to support youth who may benefit from additional community connection and encouragement. Mentors receive training and ongoing support to help youth strengthen skills related to self-confidence, communication, academic engagement, and decision-making, while fostering safe, healthy relationships.
During National Mentoring Month, the YMCA of Western North Carolina is also encouraging community members to consider becoming mentors and helping expand the program’s reach in the year ahead.