Offering Hope Through Mentorship
Linda Lou Lamb
President
Mentoring is an age-old concept that has significantly shaped our nation’s history. Traditionally, mentoring involved guiding children to develop essential skills for survival and success. However, the erosion of family structures over recent decades has left many youths without proper guidance, often leading to negative outcomes.
At Mentoring Cochise Kids (MCK), we aim to match at-risk youth in our community with quality adult mentors who offer consistent guidance and support. Youth matched with mentors show notable improvements, becoming less likely to engage in delinquent behavior, substance abuse, teen pregnancy, or dropping out of school. By pairing young people ages 5-17 with responsible, caring adults in committed, year-long relationships, we provide critical opportunities for positive change and brighter futures.
Founded in 2018 by Sue Dupee in Benson, AZ, Mentoring Cochise Kids grew out of Sue’s lifelong passion for youth development. Her journey began in Columbus, Ohio, where she offered free dog obedience classes to children. After moving to Arizona for her banking career, Sue continued to serve young people by advising Junior Achievement teams in Tucson and teaching financial literacy at Secrist Middle School.
Sue’s commitment to at-risk youth deepened during her ten years with One On One Mentoring in Tucson. Despite living in Benson, she mentored children from South Tucson, inspired by the success of that program and eager to bring a similar model to Cochise County.
Recognizing the need for a local youth mentoring program, Tom Webb, Principal of Benson Middle School and a founding board member of One On One Mentoring/Tucson, joined Sue to launch Mentoring Cochise Kids. Together, they set out to fill this critical gap in their community.
Sue soon realized that it costs an average of $1,500 per year to mentor a child, compared to nearly $70,000 per year to incarcerate one in Arizona. Mentoring not only saves society significant costs, but it also transforms young lives, offering them hope and direction for a brighter future.
Once a “match” is made, the mentor commits to spending at least two hours per week with their two mentees, ensuring consistent support and guidance for each child. This unique 1:2 mentor-mentee model allows the mentor to work with two young people at once, fostering a balanced, dynamic relationship where each mentee receives personalized attention while benefiting from the shared experiences of the group. The mentor and mentees meet regularly at the child’s school during designated supervised sessions, building trust and rapport in a familiar environment. In addition to their weekly sessions, mentors and mentees participate in group activities sponsored by MCK, such as hiking and exploring local community events. These shared experiences further strengthen their bond and provide valuable opportunities for growth and learning.
We mentor kids ages 5–17 who could use some extra support in their lives. While families are not required to share personal details, any information they do provide helps us match their child with the right mentor. At the end of the day, if a family feels their child would benefit from having a caring, consistent adult in their life—that’s enough for us.
We’re here to support any child who could use someone by their side.
Activities organized to strengthen mentor-mentee bonds include:
Mentoring is a deeply rewarding opportunity to positively impact a young person’s life. By becoming a mentor, you can provide guidance and support to youth facing significant life challenges. Learn more about the commitment and process involved in becoming a mentor with Mentoring Cochise Kids.
Even if you cannot mentor currently, you can still provide crucial support through financial contributions or volunteering at monthly events. Mentorship requires collective community involvement to succeed.