Mentorship at Urban Hope is about showing up consistently, building trust, and reminding young people they do not have to navigate life alone.
Whether you serve in a group setting or through a one-on-one match, your presence matters. You do not need to be perfect. You just need to be willing, consistent, and genuine.
The Friday Thing is Urban Hope’s youth gathering — a consistent space for connection, encouragement, and community. Every 1st & 3rd Friday, youth come together for a shared meal, meaningful conversation, and engaging activities designed to build confidence, strengthen relationships, and remind them they are not alone. Mentors play an important role by showing up, building trust, and helping create an environment where young people feel seen, supported, and valued.
UHI Basketball Club uses the game of basketball as a vehicle for mentorship, discipline, teamwork, and personal growth. Through skill development, competition, and relationship-building, youth are challenged to grow both on and off the court. Mentors and coaches help create a positive environment where young people can build confidence, learn life lessons, and experience the power of community through Indiana’s sport.
Arts as Empowerment gives young people the opportunity to explore identity, creativity, and self-expression through art. By engaging in hands-on creative experiences alongside caring mentors and teaching artists, youth are encouraged to reflect, communicate, and discover new ways to tell their story. The program is designed to nurture confidence, imagination, and healing while reinforcing each young person’s inherent worth and potential.
Consistent relationships can change the direction of a young person’s life.
Many of the youth we serve experience instability in different forms, including frequent moves and changing circumstances at home. One-on-one mentoring creates a steady connection in the midst of that. It gives a young person someone who knows them, cares about them, and continues to show up.
Urban Hope matches mentors with youth who want an ongoing relationship with a trusted adult. After completing an application, screening, and training process, mentors are paired with a mentee and supported by our team along the way.
Mentors commit to connecting with their mentee at least two times each month.
You do not need to have all the answers. Mentorship is not about being a perfect role model. It is about being a consistent presence, listening well, encouraging growth, and helping a young person feel seen, supported, and believed in.
We want every mentor to feel equipped and supported.
All new mentors complete a short series of online trainings to help prepare for a healthy, effective mentoring relationship. We also provide additional guidance and support whenever it is needed.
Our goal is not just to place mentors. It is to help them serve well.
Urban Hope also welcomes families who are interested in having their child matched with a mentor.
Mentees meet one-on-one with a trusted mentor a few times each month. These relationships are designed to provide encouragement, support, and consistent connection over time.
If you are interested in enrolling your child, fill out the form below and our team will follow up with next steps.
