January is National Mentorship Month, a time to celebrate the people who open doors, expand horizons and help young people see possibilities where they once saw limitations. For me, mentorship is not theoretical; it’s deeply personal. Growing up in subsidized housing in North Las Vegas and later in the Historic Westside, I had potential, but I didn’t always have a clear path. I didn’t see people who looked like me in positions of success, and I didn’t have mentors who could help me navigate opportunities I didn’t yet know existed. Too often, I felt invisible.
As executive director of CORE, those early experiences fuel my commitment to ensure our scholars never feel unseen. This year is especially meaningful: CORE is celebrating its 10th anniversary, a milestone that underscores the power of sustained mentorship and long-term investment in children and families. For a decade, CORE has shown that mentorship is one of the most transformative forces in a young person’s life.
MENTORSHIP CREATES PATHWAYS TO ECONOMIC MOBILITY
CORE’s mission centers on long-term, holistic investment in both students and their families. Our cohort model follows scholars from sixth grade through high school graduation while engaging parents and caregivers in their own educational and workforce development.
Mentorship is the bridge between talent and opportunity. When a trusted adult provides guidance, accountability and encouragement, a young person begins to see themselves differently — and that shift can change the entire trajectory of a family.
CAREER WE CAN: MENTORSHIP IN ACTION
One of the most impactful examples of mentorship at CORE is our Career We Can programming. This initiative gives scholars hands-on, relationship-driven experiences that connect them with professionals across a wide range of fields.
Through career fairs, work-based mentorship, guest speaker events, speed mentorship sessions, group mentorship, workplace field trips and job-shadow opportunities, CORE creates countless moments of connection that broaden perspective and build confidence. These experiences show scholars what is possible — and help them imagine themselves in roles they may never have thought attainable.
Many participating mentors come from backgrounds similar to our scholars, reinforcing a critical message: Where you come from does not define where you can go.
WHY MENTORSHIP MATTERS—ESPECIALLY IN UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES
The communities we serve face systemic inequities that limit access to opportunity. Mentorship helps counter those barriers. It strengthens emotional intelligence, nurtures resilience, builds networks of support, and ensures no child feels alone in their journey.
The results reflect a decade of this model at work:
• A 100 percent high school graduation rate.
• Higher GPAs and grade promotion rates.
• Increased acceptance into colleges and vocational programs.
• Stronger decision-making and self-advocacy skills.
• Families more equipped to pursue stability and mobility.
These outcomes are mentorship in motion.
A MOMENT OF INSPIRATION
Every year during our Career We Can workshops, I witness breakthroughs that remind me why mentorship matters. A quiet student finds their voice. A middle-schooler articulates a goal for the first time. A scholar takes the lead in a group activity after weeks of hesitation. These sparks are the visible impact of being seen, supported and encouraged.
A CALL TO ACTION
As we celebrate National Mentorship Month and CORE’s 10th anniversary, I invite our community to help shape the next decade of impact. We welcome partners and volunteers to participate in career fairs, workplace field trips, guest speaker events, group mentorship programs and work-based mentorship experiences. Your involvement doesn’t just inspire our scholars — it strengthens the future of our workforce and our city.
Mentorship changed my life — not because I had it early, but because I learned how powerful it is when it finally appears. At CORE, we strive to ensure our scholars don’t have to wait that long.
Jeff Jones is the executive director of local leadership and education nonprofit CORE. To learn more or get involved, visit www.corewecan.org.
