Youth Mentoring

 

Mary Lee Ahern

DJMC & YIELD Coordinator

mahern@accessliving.org

(312) 640-2119

The Disability Justice Mentoring Collective (DJMC)

Access Living’s award-winning youth mentoring program is called the Disability Justice Mentoring Collective (DJMC), and it connects young people who have disabilities with adult mentors.

A man and teenager pose for a selfie together.
Through DJMC, young people make connections, build their independence, and explore new skills.

Make connections, build independence, & explore new skills

  • DJMC is for young people with disabilities in grades 6 through 12 who live in Austin, East and West Garfield Park, Roseland, and Englewood.
  • Mentors are adults with or without disabilities who volunteer their time
  • DJMC is a year-long commitment for both mentors and mentees, although many continue to participate after that year is up
  • Both mentees and mentors must fill out the appropriate paperwork linked on this page before coming to their first meeting.
  • Mentors and mentees agree to attend three monthly group DJMC meetings. Meetings are 1.5-2 hours in length (five meeting hours total per month).

How do I get a mentor?

Well, To get started, visit the mentee application page! To participate as a mentee you must:

  • Have a disability*
  • Be in any grade between grades 6 through 12
  • Have a CPS ID number
  • Live in the City of Chicago in the Austin neighborhood.
  • Youth need to fit into one of the following categories:
    1. Deemed academically off track according to CPS;
    2. Have low school attendance (missed more than 40% of the academic school year);
    3. Have between 1-3 in-school disciplinary infractions;
    4. Have limited police involvement (fewer than 3 arrests);
    5. Have heightened exposure to violence/trauma based on their residency in community areas that have experience high rates of gun violence and homicides.

*Youth with all kinds of disabilities are welcome and encouraged to apply.

Visit the mentee application page and start your paperwork online, download and fill out the paperwork in the ‘Resources’ section of this page, or send an email to our Youth Team

We’ll contact you with next steps. Sometimes it can take a little while before we can pair you with a mentor. Please be patient. We do our best to find you a mentor match quickly. Once we have processed your paperwork, you’re welcome to attend the monthly DJMC meetings at Access Living even if you haven’t been paired with a mentor yet.

A young woman and a teenage girl posing for a picture together in front of "The Bean".
A DJMC mentoring pair snap a selfie in front of The Bean in downtown Chicago.

How can I volunteer to be a mentor?

Mentors are in high demand, and if you’d like to become one, we’d love to have you join DJMC! Here’s where you can fill out the mentor application online. To be a mentor you must:

  • Be at least 21 years old
  • Pass a series of background checks
  • Complete mandated reporter training
  • Meet with the DJMC coordinator for an in-person interview. This person will also ensure you are not on the sex offenders list.
  • Use and honor disability-positive language and respectfully interact with people from all walks of life
  • Commit to participating in the DJMC program for one year
  • Commit to helping youth improve in an area of concern (e.g. increased school attendance, improved academics) and be willing to work as a cohort, and be connected to teachers and student’s support network.
  • To get started, visit the mentor application page and start your paperwork online, download and fill out the paperwork in the ‘Resources’ section of this page, or send an email to our Youth Team

DJMC group meetings

Mentors and mentees agree to attend three monthly group DJMC meetings. Meetings are 1.5-2 hours in length (five meeting hours total per month). DJMC meets as a group three times per month at public library branches and at Access Living.