We’re thrilled to invite you to the Yakima Forging Brighter Futures Gala Event, a night of inspiration, community, and fundraising for Forge Youth Mentoring! Mark your calendars for Saturday, April 13th, from 5:30 PM to 8:00 PM at the West Valley Foursquare Church. At Forge Youth Mentoring, we believe in the power of mentorship to transform young lives and strengthen our community. The Yakima Forging Brighter Futures Gala is not just an event; it’s an opportunity to be part of something truly impactful. What to Expect: Inspiring Stories: Hear from mentors, mentees, and community leaders about ..read more

At Forge Youth Mentoring, we understand the incredible potential of mentorship. We believe in the transformative power of positive connections, guidance, and support. This article covers the core principles of mentoring needed to create meaningful and impactful mentoring experiences. The Goals of Mentorship Principle #1: Empathy Principle #2: Understanding Fundamental Needs Principle #3: Recognize Mentoring as a Marathon Principle #4: Remember Your Significance Principle #5: Trust the Process The Goals of Mentorship Mentorship is a journey of growth, connection, and empowerment. It is i ..read more

Steve and his mentee, Paarth, have been matched for over two years. Through their fun and learning adventures, they have formed a deep friendship. Both have had a ton of fun, but also have discovered a lot about one another. Recently, Armando Ramirez, our Mid-Columbia Basin (WA) Director sat down with Paarth’s mother, Puja, to hear her perspective on how her son has been impacted by FORGE. “When I learned about FORGE Youth Mentoring, I had just come to the United States from India. With my two kids, my 16-year-old daughter and my 9-year-old son, Paarth. Paarth was having a hard time at schoo ..read more

Ailen grew up with hard-working immigrant parents who had little schooling. They didn’t value education and offered little support for her schooling. One day, she asked her mentor, Diana, if she could possibly go to college. Diana responded with a resounding, “Yes”, and from that moment helped her finish high school with good grades, apply for and receive numerous scholarships, complete her financial aid forms, and apply to and enroll in college. Ailen was accepted to Eastern Washington University and shortly thereafter, graduated from high school. She was excited about her futu ..read more

As parents, it can be challenging to understand children’s evolving needs. These needs seem to shift with every mood and moment, making the task even more daunting. I know parents provide for our basic needs, but there’s a lot more to shaping kids when it comes to discipline, behavioral issues, and instilling core values. Although there is a wealth of books, documentaries, online courses, and blogs offering advice, I want to share on parenting teens my perspective as a high school student. Here are five tips on meeting your children’s needs beyond the basics, from the viewpoint of a student. 1 ..read more

Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) cast a long shadow on the lives of many young people. However, the latest research shows that positive and enduring relationships with caring adults can be transformative in helping them conquer these challenges. Understanding ACEs and Their Impact Adverse Childhood Experiences, commonly known as ACEs, encompass a range of traumatic events such as abuse, neglect, or family dysfunction during childhood. These experiences often lead to emotional and physical health challenges that persist into adulthood. Additionally, the statistics are sobering, with approxi ..read more

You will never have all the answers.  You haven’t lived a perfect life.  You (most likely) aren’t a Biblical scholar. You’ve made some big mistakes and maybe deeply hurt some people along the way.  Wow!  What a depressing start… That’s important, though.  A great mentor is one who recognizes those things and simply offers his/her best, knowing God will make up for their shortcomings.  Young people are looking for someone who is authentic and full of grace and that is exactly what each of us can be.  Start there and then ta ..read more

As fall kicks in and colors start changing, FORGE Youth Mentoring looks forward to the 2nd Annual Forging Brighter Futures fundraising gala in the Tri-Cities. Last year, FORGE had an incredible turnout of over 150 individuals dedicated to restoring hope in our community through the power of mentoring. The 1st annual event raised over $32,000 for our cause. This year, FORGE Youth Mentoring invites you to join us for an exciting night with a social hour, dinner, silent & live auctions, raise the paddle, desert dash and great stories from some of our wonderful mentor matches and a su ..read more

Luciano and Tim have been matched for more than a year.  At first Luciano was a quiet kid that hardly talked or answered any questions with a full sentence. When he was matched with his mentor, Tim, he was hesitant to begin meeting.  Perhaps he was afraid that he would be judged or ridiculed. But Tim was patient and understanding. He took the time to get to know Luciano and understand his interests. Over time, Luciano started to open to Tim, he told him about his hobbies, his dreams, and his fears. Tim listened attentively and offered words of encouragement. Tim has helped Luciano to ..read more

One of our mentor matches, Tom and Aden, recently went bowling for a fun event. They had a great time perfecting their skills and playing a competitive game. In the end, 11-year-old Aden won. “To this day, he still won’t let me forget it”, said Tom.   Tom and Aden have only been matched for 7 months, but their friendship is already growing. They have enjoyed activities such as eating ice cream in the mall, flying kites at the park, playing catch in the front yard, golfing, going fishing, and watching Spiderman together.   Nonetheless, Aden’s favorite memory is beating his mentor at ..read more