Student Leslie P. and Kallie Rodgers-Bell of SoCalGas both experienced Kollab Youth for the first time during the recent Spring Session. Leslie was eligible for Kollab Youth’s mentorship program (youth are eligible 16 years and up), and Rodgers-Bell, upon suggestion from her coworker and Kollab Youth Advisory Board Member Dr. Apryl Shaw, had signed up to be a mentor. Kollab Youth pairs select mentees and mentors each session in an effort to enhance the teens’ experience, ensuring they get the most out of the workforce development program.
Both the mentor and mentee shared pivotal lessons they learned in their journeys together. Leslie experienced the motivation of having someone to look up to for the first time, while Rodgers-Bell found the power in sharing her real story, even if she didn’t realize at-first that it would be motivating. These transformations within Kollab Youth’s mentorship program are part of what makes the workforce development mechanism stand out. The benefits mentees receive make them want to work harder in and out of the Kollab Youth program. The one-of-a-kind experience for the mentors makes them more inclined to get further invested in the program, whether it be through their time or networking connections.
“It was amazing getting to know Leslie,” Rodgers-Bell shared about her teenage mentee. “She was very clear about saying what she needed and ways that I could help her. Her attitude made the experience all that much more enjoyable.”
Rodgers-Bell went above-and-beyond her responsibilities to make sure that Leslie had a great experience. She invited her mentee to her office at SoCalGas to see the hustle and bustle of a busy work environment. As an aspiring nurse, Leslie said that this experience really helped her see what she imagined a hospital would feel like one day, because of how lively and busy the workplace was. The SoCalGas employee also shared some materials she had to help Leslie prepare for her job interview. A job she got, by the way! And her mentor was one of the first people she shared the news with.
“I was immediately able to open up to Kallie in a way I hadn’t opened up to anyone else,” Leslie shared in her interview. “I really looked forward to my meetings with Kallie. They were one of my favorite parts of Kollab.”
Leslie also shared that Rodgers-Bell helped her focus on the soft skills that she had when filling out her resume and practicing for her interviews. Her mentor pointed out the great communications skills she held, so Leslie talked a lot about that in her resume and interviews. Soft skills are a big focus of the Kollab Youth curriculum, so staff are happy to hear this is being translated not only in master classes and special sessions, but also in the mentor and mentee conversations.
“We deeply appreciate the volunteers who generously offer their time as mentors,” said Mary Hewitt, CEO of Kollab Youth. “When role models share their experiences and demonstrate positive habits, it can be truly transformative for our youth. It’s heartwarming to hear about connections like those between Kallie and Leslie, made possible through our program.”
The SoCalGas employee has encouragement for other professionals and community members who may be considering mentorship. “Anyone can be a mentor, she said. If you have something to share, you should do it. If I can be a mentor, so can you.”
If you were inspired by Leslie and Kallie’s story, you can reach out to Kollab Youth about becoming a mentor or refer someone else by visiting https://kollabyouth.org/mentors.
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