Mentorship: A Meaningful Pursuit
Mentorship. Defined by Meriam-Webster as “the influence, guidance or direction given by a mentor,” the word has been a buzzword of our 21st century.
In practice, however, it defines itself a little bit differently.
It defines itself as connection.
As the willingness from one human to another to give of time, of energy, of wisdom, to positively shape the life of another.
And for those who make mentorship their practice, it is defined as their way of giving back.
Taylor Wilson is the Mentoring Coordinator for the Restorative Mentoring Program at Abbotsford Restorative Justice and Advocacy Association (ARJAA). A non-profit organization that engages community conflict outside of the traditional court system, ARJAA is vitally concerned with finding innovative ways to impart restorative values and practices to the Abbotsford community. This mentorship program is specifically designed for youth going through a restorative process and matches at-risk youth, referred from ARJAA’s other restorative programs, with responsible adult mentors.
While Taylor has been involved with ARJAA since 2021, his journey with restorative justice began long before that.
His formal education began with the study of philosophy, something that quickly morphed into a pursuit of political philosophy and, eventually, a Masters in Peace and Justice. He sought out ARJAA as a way to be of service to the community. “Philosophy means ‘love of wisdom,’” explains Taylor, “it’s the understanding of the world we live in, our relationships to each other. If you think of the way you pursue wisdom, embody wisdom, you need to be engaged in the community in some way in order for it to be a truly meaningful pursuit.”
His first year with ARJAA was in a volunteer mentorship position. This position, while un-paid, is incredibly important to the health of the program and not taken lightly. “Our goal is to provide some stability, some consistency, in the life of the youth that we mentor. These youth need support for a variety of reasons and so we commit to a one year mentorship process. This can be extended if it is in the best of the interest of the youth to do so-we’re here to be that positive influence, to guide them in their decision making, to help them develop skills to deal with stress and conflict.” To be connected with ARJAA’s mentoring process, youth are either involved in a restorative action process at their school, a program that deals with conflict in Abbotsford schools, or referred through a restorative justice case file. A restorative process is the process of conflict resolution and making amends to harmed parties; these mentors are offered by ARJAA to provide continued support beyond the restorative process.
Taylor became ARJAA’s Mentoring Coordinator in 2022. Now responsible for the overall coordination and expansion of the program, Taylor currently oversees volunteer mentors in a variety of different matches with youth. When asked about the impact of the program on the community of Abbotsford, he explained that it’s something hard to quantify, but easy to see when you come face to face with parents. “Multiple times I’ve sat down with parents as the match comes to a close, and they’re overwhelmed by the impact the mentorship has had on their child in that year…It really affirms the work that we do. This (impact) is difficult to gage, but a community is built on relationships. The hope is that by assisting those in need of a supportive relationship that there is a compounding effect on the rest of the community. Many of the mentors that volunteer with us have needed mentors themselves so you can see how it gets passed on…there is a possibility for future community building.”
The principles of restorative justice encourage us to look at wrongdoing, criminal or not, as harm done to relationships and people. When a community can look beyond traditional, punitive responses to a deeper level of analysis and problem solving, that is when the mentorship of our high risk youth can thrive. “Anyone who chooses to become a volunteer mentor has an opportunity to make a personal impact that could pay dividends now and in the future. They’ll learn valuable and tangible skills in the process that will impact their future as well. This relationship changes both parties. There are so many youth who are in need of a kind and caring adult. Mentorship is more than guidance. It’s transformative for all of us.”
*For those interested in ARJAA’s Restorative Mentoring Program, more information can be found here.
Written by Darcy Halber, ARJAA Communications Specialist