MFC started from a youth ministry in Lincoln Heights that had been serving the community since 1998. Through the ministry, youths experienced a strong sense of belonging, acceptance and transformation. However, the leaders noticed that the majority of the youths were not reaching their full potential so they conducted a survey of high school youths in the community. The survey revealed what the youth felt they needed most--legitimate, meaningful employment. The barrier to this was that many had not graduated from high school, or for those who did, didn’t see the value of furthering their education and training.

We realized that to many, educational attainment and career aspirations are vague possibilities, not a priority, as financial and environmental pressures push these dreams aside. Because of their lack of credentials and training, options for meaningful employment were further limited in an already competitive job market.

Mentor for Change was then established in 2013 to address two pressing concerns: lack of interest in education and stifled career dreams limited by socio-economic burdens. To create pathways to change, we provide career-based mentoring. The program has successfully graduated multiple cohorts, with 100% of mentees completing high school and 89% pursuing higher education after high school. 100% of our graduates who pursue higher education are first-generation college students.