How Asheville Parks & Recreation is building a mentorship program that works for its community
Parks and recreation professionals often see their roles as providing spaces and opportunities for people of all ages to stay connected, discover new things, and reach their highest potential. However, one age group is notoriously hard to reach: teens and tweens. As young people straddle the time between childhood and adulthood, fostering the people and leaders they will become is essential to community health.
Asheville Parks & Recreation (APR) set out to create a fostering environment throughout the city with the Go! Guiding Others mentorship program. Born from a grant provided by the National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA), this initiative is a powerful example of how parks and recreation departments can become critical partners in youth development and address some of the most pressing challenges in communities.
“Mentoring, at its core, guarantees our community’s young people that there is someone who cares about them and that they’re not alone,” says APR Director D. Tyrell McGirt. “This program is full of love and care—and its commitment to fostering positive relationships and empowering youth is truly making a difference in our community.”
Go! Guiding Others was initially conceived as an alternative to school suspension, a way to use restorative practices to help young people heal and grow after making mistakes. The program focuses on building self-confidence, improving academics, and teaching essential life skills. What started as a targeted intervention has since expanded, seamlessly integrating into APR’s afterschool programs and other local schools, demonstrating its adaptability and effectiveness.
