The Community Mentor Program (CMP) is a program sponsored by the East San Gabriel Valley Japanese Community Center (ESGVJCC) and Kizuna to forge relationships between high school age students and young adults to provide a resource for guidance and a positive support system for the mentee.
In addition, the program will create the investment necessary to foster a new generation of stakeholders in the Japanese American community for both parties.
CMP had a total of 20 members in its first year and is only growing. In its first year, CMP took a walking tour of Little Tokyo led by Bill Watanabe, held its first Sushi Fest and Hotdog Cook-off, tour of the Japanese American National Museum and a campus tour of UCLA.
In addition, CMP has volunteered at Keiro on multiple occasions and fundraised at Akimatsuri, Cherry Blossom Festival, and Kizuna Family Showdown.
Plans for the coming year include Cal Poly Pomona and CSU Fullerton campus tours, volunteering at community events, and various cultural activities.
Participation is free for mentees. The program coordinators and mentors are volunteering their time. Mentees must be current high school students. Mentors have completed degrees at universities and gone on to careers in fields like engineering, non-profit management and consulting.
If you are interested in becoming a mentee, visit www.kizuna-la.org/programs/community-mentors-program/ or email info@kizuna-la.org.