KCMA Update

Wow, what a whirlwind year it's been for our Kern Community Mentoring AmeriCorps team! With an impressive 700+ mentees now matched across our partner schools, our mentors are seeing their students shine brighter every day.

From shy smiles transforming into confident waves, to struggling readers becoming book enthusiasts, our mentors are witnessing those magical "lightbulb moments" that make this work so rewarding. As one mentor put it, "There's nothing quite like seeing a student tackle something they thought was impossible!"

Our mentors haven't just been busy in classrooms—they've been out and about making our community better through service events, wearing their AmeriCorps gear with pride while providing clothing for those in need, organizing career fairs, and volunteering at various school events.

Between important training sessions (with plenty of coffee and snacks to fuel the learning!) and laughter-filled team building activities, our mentors have formed an unstoppable support network. Who knew that having fun could build such strong bonds?

As we charge into the final portion of our year, our mentors are fired up and ready to continue making waves of positive change. Stay tuned for more amazing mentorship stories—this AmeriCorps crew is strong!

This mentee was always quiet and kept to herself, rarely turning in work on time. But with a little encouragement, she started trying. Little by little she spoke up more and put in the effort. Now, she is determined to graduate, proving to herself that she can succeed.

Another mentee was the life of the school. Everyone knew him, but he never cared about classes or college. Skipping assignments and joking around was his norm. But everything changed after a field trip to BC. Walking the campus, meeting some students and seeing the possibilities had sparked something within him. Now he is focused, catching up on work and planning for his future. He's determined to make it to college and BC is now the goal. I'm glad to play a small part in helping him succeed.

~Daisy

Since our AmeriCorps program began 30 years ago, a majority of mentees have consistently improved attendance and /or behavior each school year.

• 2018-19, 81% of mentees who were chronic absentees the prior year improved attendance
• 74% of mentees with less than 95% attendance improved attendance
• 90% of freshmen improved attendance
• 58% with three or more suspensions or behavior referrals the prior year had fewer such incidents
• 70% of mentees with at least one suspension for violent behavior the prior ear had fewer such incidents
• More recent data will be available once our next program evaluation report is complete

Mrs. Reno has been a huge role in my middle school life. She has helped me with family and friend issues, my anger issues and panic attacks. I've gone through a lot mentally and Mrs. Reno has always been there to help. I love talking to her and I learned how to control my emotions a lot more because of her. I'm sad she won't be my mentor in future years. Thank you Mrs. Reno!

From another mentee--

I've been in AmeriCorps with Mrs. Reno for two years and she has helped me a lot with more than just school. She is awesome and I'm glad she's been there for me during middle school. She has helped me with mental health issues when I thought there wasn't anyone to turn to. She also helped me through school drama and with school work. AmeriCorps has helped me so much! I'm going to miss having Mrs. Reno around in future years.

~Savhanna

During my time in AmeriCorps, I had the privilege of mentoring a student in middle school at Greenfield Community School. He was struggling with his confidence and falling behind in math. At first, he hesitated to ask for help and was a little against the help, but he later ended up opening up a bit and mentioned how he was feeling like he wasn’t “good enough” to succeed. I made it my goal to create a safe space for him to ask questions and to take his time and learn at his own pace. Over time, with patience, encouragement, and consistent tutoring sessions, he not only was able to improve his grades but also began believing in himself. Before his exit date came around, he had raised his math grade from a D to a B and even started helping his classmates! Seeing his confidence grow and knowing I played a small role in his success and confidence was one of the most rewarding experiences of my service, and I am forever grateful for this opportunity that I have been given to work in this field.

~Prisila

I first met this mentee last year when she was in 7th grade. Although she wasn’t on my roster, we often communicated when I would push into her class. Fast forward to this school year, I wasn’t expecting to see her back at the Community Learning Center as an 8th grader. She was embarrassed and frustrated to be returning, which marked the beginning of our mentoring .

During each of our sessions, we focused on her consequences, her Check In Check Out (CICO) program, and whether it was possible for her to return to her original school and graduate with her peers. We made a plan and worked together on her language, temper, and attitude, and this helped her successfully complete the CICO program. As a result, she earned a certificate showing that she had graduated from the program, a big reminder of how much she had improved.

She not only accomplished her goal but will also be returning to her school three months early. Thanks to her hard work, she will now be able to graduate with her peers. Although she’s excited to go back, she understands that it will be a challenge. She knows that she must continue applying everything we’ve learned together to ensure she doesn’t undo the progress she’s made.

We are both excited for the next chapter in her journey.

~Karina

When I first started there was that one student, the one who made it his job in life to give me a hard time. The one who always had something to say and who thought that challenging authority was the “cool” thing to do. With time, instead of giving him what he wanted, which would be to not give him attention on his assignments or give him activities, I did the opposite. I gave him a “Get to Know Me” worksheet. I gave him a positivity quote to color. Resistance was inevitable, but after some time I noticed I was gaining his respect through showing I wasn’t going to go anywhere or give up on him. When I knew I’d done this, I was able to start pushing him to do his class assignments. It wasn’t easy at first, but as months went by he began to ask for help. Four months into the school year this student comes to me and starts opening up about personal issues at home and at school. Six months in I no longer have to ask how he’s doing; he simply comes in and starts talking about what’s happening and asks for advice or support with conflict. Now I no longer have to dig the school work out of him, he just comes in, sits and is vocal about needing tutoring. My room has become his safe space and his tutoring space. Caring about his grades and leaving bad habits behind is no longer seen as “not cool.” He shows respect because he knows I care, and he also goes into class and helps his teachers when students are disrespectful. Teachers like having him around and they know he will do his assignments when he’s in my room. I can’t wait to see what this student accomplishes in the future with his brains and his business.

~Itzel

When I first met "G" through AmeriCorps, she was incredibly shy, quiet, and hesitant to express herself. She often kept to herself, seemingly intimidated by new challenges and unsure of her own abilities. However, since working with her, I have witnessed a remarkable transformation. With time, encouragement, and her own determination, she has blossomed into a confident and outspoken individual. She now participates actively, shares her thoughts with conviction, and approaches challenges with a newfound sense of self-assurance. Seeing her growth has been one of the most rewarding aspects of my experience, and I have no doubt that she will continue to thrive as she embraces her strengths and potential.

~Janelie

During my 2022-2023 service year, I had the privilege of working with a sophomore who, from the very first day, caught my attention. He was a student who, on the outside, wore a tough exterior, distancing himself from others. But from the moment we met, I could tell he was someone special—someone with a big heart, despite the walls he put up. He knew, deep down, that I genuinely cared about his well-being and wanted nothing but the best for him. When I first encountered him, it was clear he wasn’t just facing academic challenges; he was struggling with the weight of his environment. Every day, he faced constant threats and intimidation from peers trying to draw him into gangs. He came to me, sometimes in tears, recounting how he had been jumped, threatened, or just made to feel unsafe. It was heartbreaking to hear that his only safe place was our classroom, the one place where he could breathe easy. But despite these struggles, I saw a determination in him that others might have overlooked. Fast forward to the 2024-2025 school year. Now a senior, this young man has transformed before my eyes. He is excelling academically, earning good grades, and has even found his passion in the Logistics and Distribution program at CTEC. It’s been an incredible journey watching him grow—not just in his studies, but as a person. The struggles he faced in those early years didn’t define him; instead, they fueled his growth.

One of the most touching moments I’ve experienced with him is when he shared that he still keeps the card I gave him back in 2022. The card bears the quote: “Mistakes are meant to happen in order for us to grow.” He told me that he reads it every day, using it as a reminder that even when life is tough, there’s always an opportunity to learn and grow. This student’s journey is a true testament to resilience, determination, and the power of having someone believe in you. His story is one of triumph over adversity, and I couldn’t be prouder of the young man he has become.

~Daisy

Thank you for allowing us to serve ourselves by serving your students!!!!!

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@kerncommunitymentoring

Email: gewelch@kern.org
Website: kernmentoringamericorps.org
Location: 1300 17th Street, Bakersfield, CA, USA
Phone: 661-636-4322

Instagram:

@kerncommunitymentoring

Email: isromero@kern.org
Website: kernmentoringamericorps.org
Location: 1300 17th Street, Bakersfield, CA, USA
Phone: 661-636-4323