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BrightPath Youth Mentoring Donate
A mentor and a teenage student talking and smiling

BrightPath · San Diego youth mentoring

Every young person deserves a mentor in their corner.

BrightPath pairs San Diego youth ages 8–18 with caring adult mentors — then surrounds every match with the support to help it last.

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Our mission

A consistent, caring adult changes everything.

Research and lived experience agree: one dependable relationship can shift the trajectory of a young person’s life. Since 2012, BrightPath has built those relationships across San Diego — matching youth with mentors and backing each pair with academic support, college and career guidance, and a community that believes in them.

Read our story
A mentor helping a student with schoolwork

How mentoring works

Three steps to a lasting match

1

We match

A trained coordinator pairs each young person with a screened adult mentor who shares their interests and goals.

2

They meet weekly

Mentor and mentee spend time together every week — homework, a project, a walk, or simply a steady conversation.

3

We support the match

Ongoing check-ins, training, and resources help every match grow strong and last.

Programs

Built around each young person

See all programs
Students working together in an after-school session

1:1 Mentoring Match

A carefully matched adult mentor who shows up, week after week, for one young person.

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A diverse group of young people from the program

After-School Academic Support

Homework help, study skills, and a quiet place to focus after the final bell.

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A student celebrating a college acceptance

College & Career Readiness

Demystifying applications, financial aid, and the path beyond high school.

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Our impact

Mentoring that adds up

500+
Youth matched with a mentor
300
Trained volunteer mentors
90%
Mentees advancing grade to grade
12
Years serving San Diego

Illustrative example metrics — replace with BrightPath's real figures.

A volunteer mentor with a student

Give your time

Become a mentor

A couple of hours a week can change a young person’s path. We’ll train and support you every step.

Start your application
Young students smiling at school

Give your support

Fund a match

Your gift helps screen, train, and support mentors so more young people get matched.

Make a gift

What’s coming up

Upcoming events

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Jul 9, 2026

Mentor Info Session

6:00–7:00pm · BrightPath Office · 410 Imperial Ave, San Diego

A relaxed evening to learn what mentoring really looks like, hear from staff, and ask every question before you apply. No commitment required.

Jul 25, 2026

New Mentor Training

9:00am–1:00pm · BrightPath Office · 410 Imperial Ave, San Diego

Required onboarding for matched mentors: youth safety, communication, boundaries, and the tools that make a match thrive. Lunch provided.

Aug 15, 2026

College Tour Day

8:00am–4:00pm · Departs from BrightPath Office

A guided campus visit for high-school mentees and their mentors — admissions Q&A, a student-life walkthrough, and a glimpse of what is possible.

Be the steady presence a young person remembers for life.

Mentor, give, or simply learn more. Every path starts a relationship that lasts.

Become a mentor Donate