Common Grace - Malama Mentors and Mohala Mentors Program

As part of the Mālama Mentors and Mohala Mentors Program, Common Grace will expand mentorship opportunities for at-risk elementary and middle school students throughout Oahu, with a focus on catering to Title I schools and addressing local issues of poverty, familial instability, high crime rates, bullying or cyberbullying, mental health, and positive youth developmental outcomes. Over 36 months, this project will target Hawaii Department of Education Complex Areas on Oahu, including the Honolulu District, Windward District, and Leeward District. Many of the communities within each of these areas have low per capita resident incomes and higher rates of violent or property crime compared to the state.

Under the guidance of adults, high school sophomores, juniors, and seniors, and college age mentors will be trained to provide at-risk children one-to-one mentoring onsite at partnering schools once a week throughout the school year. Sessions will encompass 10 minutes of active listening, 20 minutes of art, indoor strategic games and homework boosting (if requested), and 30 minutes of encouragement through indoor and/or outdoor play. By collaborating with Title I schools and offering steady, positive reinforcement through our committed teen mentors, Common Grace will build protective factors among new at-risk children in third to eighth grades. During the project period, Common Grace will reach an estimated 130 unduplicated students through a combination of elementary, middle, and high schools, with the overall goal of mitigating youth delinquency and juvenile justice system involvement. Common Grace mentors, with adult oversight and ongoing training, will provide these children with a secure and safe environment to improve the social outcomes of children who have experienced bullying, cyberbullying, ostracism, or the absence of a role model in their lives. Through mentorship expansion, Common Grace will equip an even greater number of at-risk children with the necessary tools to prosper and excel, disrupting the cycle of poverty, instability, and systemic inequities.