National Mentoring Month is a time to recognize the role that mentors play in the lives of their mentees. Mentors come in many forms, and at Alliance, there is a cyclical nature of mentorship, where mentees become mentors to others.
Check out our inspiring mentor-mentee pairs from Alliance’s Peer Program!
STEPHEN, WAVERLY, and ARDITH
Stephen had been at Alliance for years when Waverly transitioned from working in Client Services to the Peer training program. “I met Mr. Williams during the transition period. At the time I was a mentor for roughly 25 Peers and realized that I needed to spend more time on the 4th Floor in the dedicated Peer area. It was important to have the Peers get to know me, place a name with the face. Non-profit work was new to me. Mr. Williams shared his lived experiences with me, validated me and my expertise with the Peers who may have been a bit apprehensive to open up, and work with me at the time since I was the new guy.”
Stephen speaks powerfully about Waverly as an exceptional Alliance mentor. “His mentorship is based on trust, confidentiality, mutual respect, accountability, and sensitivity. He is a great role model. Listening to Waverly talk about the benefits of continued education as he returned to school encouraged me to obtain my GED. Having him as a mentor has changed my life, personally and professionally.”
Stephen Williams
It is apparent that Stephen and Waverly both inhabit the roles of mentor for one another. “He supported me as I tried to introduce new ideas and practices to the existing structure in Peer Services,” Waverly said. “In exchange, I offered him an ear when he needed it, more structured and consistent supervision, and performance evaluations.”
Both Stephen and Waverly have served as mentors to countless Alliance Peers, program participants, and staff, like Ardith Cornelius, who told us, “Mr. Williams has inspired me in many ways and I cannot thank him enough. He is so inspiring, encouraging, and kind. I thank you from the depths of my heart.”
Ardith also called Waverly a compassionate and encouraging role model and “a great source of information and support for some personal situations that I was going through.” As a Peer Worker and a member of the Peer Alumni committee, Waverly feels that “she's a very special individual. I try to make space for all of the Peers that find benefit in my support and seek it out, but with Ardith, it's deeper.”
ERIC AND MS. JOYCE
Peer Services supports the transition of Peers to paid work across Alliance programs. And many Peers, like Eric Ramos, are hired for their exemplary work in the Peer program. He asked that we recognize Joyce Myricks as a born leader, wonderful mentor, and trustworthy friend.
“Even with all her duties as the lead facilitator of PREP, she always has time to check in with me both professionally and personally. At the start of the pandemic and the loss of family and friends, she kept me encouraged and helped me through my grief.
“Ms. Joyce has always provided me wise advice and diplomatic direction, especially my first cycle on the PREP team. She always goes above and beyond when it comes to encouraging many other Peers. I am lucky to have had Ms. Joyce during my time as a student in PREP Cycle 50 and also to have her as a mentor. She proves each and every day that one person truly can make a big difference.”
Eric and Joyce
Ms. Joyce thinks that “the role of the Mentor at Alliance and specifically with PREP, is to be a good listener and help them map out their road to work. We all bring our behaviors from the environments we've been in. New Peers are trying to make changes in their lives and don't necessarily have strong existing support systems, so I like to establish and maintain overt lines of communication.”
A graduate of PREP herself—cycle 31, taught by none other than Stephen Williams—she could tell right away that Eric was smart and empathetic but experienced anxiety due to tremendous responsibilities he was carrying in various parts of his life. “He had a lot of self-doubt, so over the past couple of years, I tried to go through situations with him as a healthy support system, while retaining a professional relationship. Our relationship was built on my willingness to always listen to him, at times when he was emotionally overwrought. I try to prepare him for any potentially triggering situation, and help him understand how to pause, and just consider all his choices, and how he can make ones that will help him. I've tried to identify times and situations where he can take on more responsibilities in a way that I think will help him grow.”
Eric feels she has done a great job there.