Community Support
Mentoring
The 'glue' of ALMS’s strategy to connect with and retain the engagement of disadvantaged youth in the job-readiness program is through personal and professional mentoring.
Personal Mentors
An experienced, dedicated team of volunteers mentor ALMS youth. They are available. They listen, empathize, relate, and advise. They leverage the attraction of soft skills training and adult living courses to help develop credibility with their mentee(s). They call upon this credibility/trust factor when the young person, more often than not, calls upon them when they experience difficult times of fearfulness, anxiety, confusion, loneliness, and depression – as they figure out life. ALMS mentors refer youth to professional help if emotional/behavioral issues exceed their qualifications.
Professional Mentors
ALMS recruits members from the community having particular expertise to volunteer their time and teach what they know to ALMS youth in a classroom setting. These subjects range from computer and information technology to resume writing courses, career counseling, human resources, etc.
Community Workshops
ALMS recruits organizations and businesses to make one-time presentations that inform youth, broaden their horizons, and understanding of what is possible. Examples are: 'Online Banking,' presented by Yolo Federal Credit Union.
Volunteers
Volunteers are the backbone of ALMS. Experienced, compassionate, energetic members of the community, ALMS volunteers fulfill vital roles within the organization: mentoring, food services, career coaching, counseling, teaching workshops, facilitating group training, special events, serving on the Board of Directors, and fundraising. ALMS volunteers come from many walks of life and professions, including numerous retirees. Some examples are a retired teacher, school bus driver, nurse, HR officer, retired correctional officer, retired insurance broker, retired school principal, retired judge, retired and working physicians, CPA, lawyer, county worker, mental health worker, technician, homemakers, cook, administrator, and others.