2024 BEST Kids Mentor &
Volunteer Appreciation Event
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2023 Mentors of the Month
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Match of the Year!BEST Kids celebrate Kimmie and Belva as the Mentor and Mentee of the Year. Their story is a testament to the resilience of the human spirit and the enduring power of meaningful connections. As we look forward, inspired by their example, we remain committed to fostering more stories of growth, support, and triumph within our mentoring program.
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Congratulations, Jessica, on being named Mentor of the Month for December! Your dedication, guidance, and support have truly made a positive impact on your mentee. Your commitment to helping her grow and succeed is commendable, and this recognition is well-deserved. Keep up the excellent work, and thank you for being an inspiring mentor! Jessica had this to say about her experience being a mentor. “Being Amaya's mentor for 2+ years has been an incredible honor. I love taking her to places in D.C. she hasn't yet had the chance to see, like the Kennedy Center and the White House. But our best memories are made by just hanging out at parks, libraries, and around her neighborhood. We make art, listen to music, and learn from each other. My favorite Peer Group with Amaya was going to the Air and Space Museum. A part of the museum showcases the impact of the civil rights movement on air travel, which sparked an important discussion about fighting systemic injustice today. Amaya also loved seeing what astronauts have for dinner. I enjoy taking on DIY projects and hiking with my dog in my free time.” x
BEST Kids would like to extend our congratulations to Troy Hung, who has been named the BEST Kids Mentor of the Month for July. He has done a phenomenal job mentoring Frank. As Troy reflected on his mentoring journey, he said, “One of my favorite memories as a mentor was taking my mentee to a rock-climbing peer group. Despite his fear of heights, I was able to encourage Frank to climb to the top and conquer his fear. As someone who loves adventure, I enjoyed the high ropes course peer group the most.” One of the major hurdles for Troy was deciding which life lessons Frank should learn, in addition to education and finance. One example was educating Frank about the negative aspects of social media. Troy currently works in HR Analytics at Nestle, and he is constantly excited to learn about new technologies that can enhance the employee experience. During his free time, Troy enjoys playing sports, like softball, frisbee and golf, playing board games and exploring new cultures through travel. When it comes to cuisine, Troy says, “New Orleans cuisine, specifically Jambalaya, has a special place in my heart.” Thank you, Troy for your unwavering support and commitment as a BEST Kids mentor! |
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Meet Ernest, our BEST Kids Mentor of the Month for November. He says his fondest memory was the day he spent looking at cars with his mentee, Tyler. Ernest’s favorite peer group involved learning about diverse career opportunities. Ernest said, “this sparked conversations about career options and future goals with Tyler.” He wondered if he was making an impact on Tyler's life. Now he realizes the importance of consistent support in ensuring an impact is made. Earnest enjoys sports, reading, and quality time with his family in his free time. As a Program Manager in the Office of Human Rights, he leads the Citywide Youth Bullying Prevention Program, working towards enhancing the lives of youth in DC. Congratulations, Ernest! Your mentorship has made a profound impact on Tyler's life. BEST Kids is truly grateful for your unwavering commitment to our mission. Keep up the exceptional work! Your dedication not only transforms individual lives but also contributes significantly to the overall success of our mentoring program. We appreciate your invaluable efforts in creating positive and lasting change. x
Congratulations are in order for our mentor of the month! Sammer and David have been paired for over three years, sharing a passion for anime, comic cons, and museums. They enjoy exploring new places and creating memories together and have been spending time lately revising David's resume and searching for job opportunities. Sammer generously invited BEST Kids to his workplace, Deloitte, to give our mentees a chance to meet and learn from working professionals in the DMV area. We are grateful for his support. When asked about their favorite memory together, Sammer mentioned attending AwesomeCon in 2021, where they chatted about their favorite anime shows, movies, games, and characters and even met the voice actor of Super Mario. Their favorite peer group event was the BestKids Picnic, where they played blindfolded racing. As a mentor, Sammer's biggest challenge has been helping David find the right job, but he has been supporting him with his resume and interview skills. In his free time, Sammer enjoys playing chess, listening to the Joe Rogan Podcast, fishing, and football. He has even played chess with his mentee both in person and over Zoom. We greatly appreciate Sammer's unwavering commitment and dedication to his mentee and the BEST Kids program. His consistent display of dedication has not gone unnoticed, and we thank him for it. |
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It's been almost 9 months since Ashley and Jackie were matched, and they've already established a strong bond that's hard to miss. They simply enjoy spending time with each other, whether it's attending a pottery class or going to an orchard to pick fresh apples. The fun experiences they've had together so far are countless, and it's always exciting to see what they'll do next. Ashley and Jackie have been such a wonderful addition to the BK family! They always bring positive energy, and seeing them enjoying themselves at our events is heartwarming. Ashley is an incredible mentor who is always eager to learn and grow. She consistently meets BK hour reporting requirements and is never afraid to ask for feedback to improve her skills. Whenever we need an extra hand, we can always count on Ashley to lend hers. We are so grateful to have Ashley and Jackie in our program! We're thrilled to choose Ashley as our Mentor of the Month for her outstanding contributions. Congratulations, Ashley! x
Congratulations to Stephen Urbanczyk, our Mentor of the Month for April! Stephen was selected because of his dedication to fostering a lasting relationship with his mentee, Emmanuel. The duo has done a wide variety of things. Their favorites include a trip to the Zoo and a ride on the DC Water Taxi. The match also enjoyed several Peer Group events, especially the picnic and the visit to Howard Hospital. The biggest challenge for Stephen has been the travel requirements. He spends just about four hours in the car getting to his foster home in the country in Maryland, traveling to DC, and then back again. Thus he can see him only about twice a month, but the two hours with Emmanuel in the car have been helpful because that is when he opens up and tells Stephen things. Stephen is a semi-retired lawyer who enjoyed more than 40 years as a trial lawyer; He is still a "Senior Counsel" at his firm and goes into the office in DC once in a while to stay in touch with his secretary and friends. Judy (Stephen's wife) and he just moved to a house on the water in Annapolis; they enjoy boating and finding exciting things to do in their new city. Stephen is also trying to get back to golf. He likes all kinds of food. When he is with his mentee, they invariably go to places like Shake Shack for a burger, fries, and a root beer float. Emmanuel enjoys our outings; Stephen is trying to model responsible adult behavior and give Emmanuel a healthy male perspective on life. Stephen has consistently displayed his dedication to his mentee and the BEST Kids program. Thank you, Stephen, for your unwavering commitment and dedication! |
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During my time at BEST Kids I’ve learned that mentorship is a two way street. I’ve gained many new perspectives and tried new things. The lessons you aim to teach as a mentor can also serve as a reminder to yourself to follow your own advice. In particular, the takeaways I will carry with me are to make time to have fun with those you care about and never stop trying new things! x
Congratulations to our March Mentor of the Month, Jak’Quan Jackson! Jak’Quan was selected because of his dedication to fostering a lasting relationship with his mentee, Zech. The duo has spent time participating in several BEST Kids peer group activities that have brought them closer together. One of their favorite peer groups was visiting the National Air and Space Museum. Jak’Quan shared that Zech likes to have conversations while eating ice-cream. Jak’Quan has consistently displayed his dedication to his mentee and the BEST Kids program. Thank you, Jak’Quan for your unwavering commitment and dedication! |
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Monique Pichon and Riley (Match) Mo and Riley's mentorship has blossomed over the last five months. Their consistent time spent together has resulted in a strong bond that continues to grow as they share experiences. They have been very involved in BK programming. Mo has been a great support to Riley, who struggles with social anxiety, and helps her to feel comfortable in social settings. Mo is our Mentor of the Month due to her consistent, empathetic engagement with Riley and high participation in BK programming. What is your most cherished memory of spending time with your mentee? Well, my favorite memory so far is when we went horseback riding together. It was a long ride to get there, and during the journey, she took over the DJ duties because she thought my 90s hip-hop was too old-fashioned. That was when she told me about her passion for music production and played all her favorite tunes while explaining why certain beats are her favorite. The conversation was a turning point in our relationship, and since then, we talk about everything. However, I am still not allowed to play music in my car when we travel together! Which was your favorite Peer Group? When we went to Six Flags, we enjoyed riding rollercoasters and had a great time. She was surprised that I wanted to ride everything, too. What is the biggest challenge you've faced since becoming your mentee's mentor? When interacting with others, I am learning how to help my mentee cope with their high social anxiety. What is your current job/career and what do you enjoy about your work? I work as a chemist at USDA's Food Safety and Inspection Services. I am glad my work involves direct policy-making that ensures public health. What are some hobbies/things you like to do in your free time? I enjoy sports and spending time outdoors. Since moving here, I've developed a passion for DC's theater scene. Additionally, I tend to splurge on Lego sets. What's your favorite food? My mama's gumbo! x
Congratulations to our February Mentor of the Month, Michael (Mike) Lints! Mike was selected because of his dedication to fostering a lasting relationship with his mentee, Michael. The duo has spent time participating in several BEST Kids peer group activities that have brought them closer together. One of their favorite peer groups was the Pottery class. Mike shared that Michael loves creating art and they have fun doing hands-on art projects, despite Mike's busy life being an accountant, and real estate agent and recently getting married on March 11! Congratulations! Mike is on the board of BEST Kids and is passionate about promoting our mission of serving foster and at-risk youth in our local community. Mike has consistently displayed his dedication to his mentee and the BEST Kids program. Thank you, Mike for your unwavering commitment and dedication! |
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Information about the match:(James Sydnor and Joshua Johnson) James and Joshua have been matched for two months and thirty days! Within this brief period, they have achieved a lot together. Joshua's favorite activities with James include visiting music stores, playing basketball, and bowling. James also enjoys taking Joshua to different BEST Kids peer groups and events. They have not wasted any time exploring Washington, DC, and have been doing as many activities as possible during their time together. Congratulations to James and Joshua on their successful match! What is your favorite memory of spending time with your mentee? “One of my favorite memories was when we went to the bowling alley and a jazz concert at the Smithsonian. This outing allowed me to see different sides of Joshua. I witnessed his fun and competitive side at the bowling alley and also his cultural side at the concert. Although the music was different for both of us, I could see that he was interested. This outing provided a great starting point for future activities.” What’s your favorite peer group activity? “My favorite Peer Group was the back-to-school field day. It was a relaxed environment that allowed mentees and mentors to get to know each other better. The event had several activities catering to varying interests, which made it even more enjoyable.” Any challenges? “Since becoming my mentee's mentor, I haven't faced any significant challenges. My mentee, Joshua, and I established a good rapport from the beginning, and we both agreed on how we would interact with each other and set expectations. So far, everything is going well between us.” What do you do during your free time? “As someone who recently retired, I am redefining my hobbies. However, one hobby that has remained constant is riding motorcycles.” x
Congratulations to our January Mentor of the Month, Kevin Spicer! Kevin was selected because of his dedication to fostering a lasting relationship with his mentee, Elijah. The duo has spent time participating in several BEST Kids peer group activities that have brought them closer together. One of their favorite peer groups was the Hip Hop Dance class. Kevin shared that although he and his mentee were out of their comfort zones, they had a fun time even while messing up and were able to learn new dance moves with the group. When the pair was first matched, one of Elijah’s goals was to learn Spanish. Not knowing the language, Kevin had to rely on Google and dictionaries to translate to help Elijah with his homework assignments. Kevin says, “It was a good challenge for both of us, and thankfully Elijah passed and met the language requirements to graduate!” Kevin has consistently displayed his dedication to his mentee and the BEST Kids program. Thank you, Kevin, for your unwavering commitment and dedication! |