2025-2026 Lead College Access Mentor (Central Valley)

Improve Your Tomorrow  Mentor Fellowship

Would you like an opportunity to change the narrative for youth from disadvantaged backgrounds in our community, nation and world? If so, we are in search of Lead Mentors that believe in Improve Your Tomorrow's Core Values: Teamwork, Character, Service and Liberation and want to be a part of a movement! Learn more about the 10-Month Lead Mentor Fellowship Program below and apply today to make a lasting impact and difference in the lives of youth from disadvantaged backgrounds this upcoming school year starting August 2025! 

What is Improve Your Tomorrow?

Improve Your Tomorrow (IYT) was founded in 2013 with the mission to increase the number of youth from disadvantaged backgrounds to attend and graduate from colleges and universities. We envision a world where men of color are overrepresented in higher education, underrepresented in the criminal justice system, and leaders in their communities. We work to combat academic inequities and build a college-to-community pipeline with remarkable resilience, authenticity, and passion.

What is AmeriCorps? 

AmeriCorps is a national service program in the United States that engages individuals in community service to address critical needs in education, public health, disaster response, environmental conservation, and more. IYT partners with AmeriCorps to provide service opportunities focused on increasing college access to disadvantaged youth. Through AmeriCorps programs, IYT College Access mentors serve as mentors and role models to students and the community.  

What exactly do College Access Mentors do? 

IYT's Mentor Fellowship Program is an opportunity for diverse college or recent high school and college graduates and emerging leaders to develop strong, innovative, and empathetic leadership skills while supporting young scholars on their journey to and through college. College Access Mentors serve at middle school, high school or local college campuses providing valuable mentorship and academic support to IYT participants in our College Academy program.  

Responsibilities:

 IYT College Access Mentors (High School)

• Support in delivering workshops (this can include college advising, civic engagement, life skills, etc).
• Mentors are assigned a caseload of 25-30 students with the goal being to provide academic, emotional, and mental support (mentorship)
• Review transcripts and advise on college admission requirements to all students (mentorship)
• Weekly communication with parents/guardians via phone/email in regards to the student academic, emotional, and mental growth (mentorship follow-up)
• Provide a space for individuals and groups for academic support, college applications, FAFSA & Hosting parent nights (after school)
• Daily data entry of student progress information into our Database (Salesforce)
• Participate in Leadership Developmental Training, IYT events or Brotherhood Activities in Sacramento (1-2x Month on Saturdays)
• Participate in College Tour events (2x Semester on Friday or Saturdays)
• Participate in on campus activities on regular basis (College Access Mentors)
• Perform other duties as assigned

IYT College Success Mentors  (Colleges/Universities) 

• Participate in Team Builder events (1x Semester on Saturdays)
• Conduct one on one and small group mentoring sessions for college students with the goal being to provide academic, emotional, and mental support (mentorship)
• Assist in the out of school activities and program offerings as needed
• Support and/or conduct Saturday and off-site programming, career tours and field trips
• Participate in monthly professional development sessions and work directly with career resource counselor
• Daily data entry of student progress information into our Database (Salesforce)
• Provide a space for individuals and groups for academic support
• Support in delivering workshops (this can include college advising, civic engagement, life skills, etc).
• Knowledge of community college transfer process and University transfer pathways (TAG)
• Support the High school to college transition through summer arc programs
• Perform other duties as assigned

Qualifications:

• Must be a U.S. citizen, U.S. national, or legal permanent resident
• Must be High school graduate, current college students preferred, but not required
• Spanish language skills preferred but not required
• Have reliable transportation
• Ability to commit to meeting service hour requirements
• Passion and commitment to IYT’s mission, vision, and values
• Patience and strong interpersonal skills are required for working with students and parents
• Possess good organizational skills and complete paperwork promptly
• Have a valid driver license (preferred), car preferred

Benefits of Service: 

IYT Mentors receive a bi-weekly stipend, medical benefits (if eligible), loan deferment (if eligible), professional development, career advising, access to Alumni Network and much more! Upon the successful completion of the service term, IYT Mentors receive a monetary educational award. Please see more details for your region below.

• Earn an Education Award upon completion of program requirements
  • Earn up to or between $1,565.08 to $10,000 Segal AmeriCorps Education Award that can be applied towards qualified student loans and college expenses (pending hourly commitment). Contingent on the number of years served. 
• Eligible for Student Loan Deferment and Student Loan Forgiveness (for all loans that qualify)
• Gain Career Readiness, Leadership Development training, Access to Alumni Network and Career Resource counselor and that prepare you for your career path and to be leader
• Participate in Wellness workshops designed to support  mental health, wellness, and personal empowerment.
• Access to Guaranteed admissions (only available to previous IYT members).

Living Stipend Amounts 

• $1,250.21 Bi-weekly stipend for 40 hours per week commitment

Length of Service: 

• Term of Service for 40 hours per week begins August 2025 through June 2026.

Schedule Requirements: 

• Weekly commitments of 40 hours on average per week.
• Must be available to serve Monday through Fridays between the hours of 8:00am-5:30pm, based on site needs.
• Participate in mandatory monthly Friday professional development trainings
• Availability for weekend and evening activities is required, Including one to two Saturdays per month are required for college tours, team builders, mandatory IYT events and training.
• This position may require you to travel up to 20 minutes to your assigned site placement.

Note: This is not an hourly job, but a 10-month AmeriCorps program. 

Additional Requirements:

• Enrollment in the program is contingent on the results of a National Service Criminal History Check. Members must submit to a criminal background check that includes: FBI fingerprinting, National Sex Offender Registry, and state criminal background check. Clearance from background checks is required for employment, with  all expenses covered by IYT.
• All mentors must attend Pre-Service Orientation.
• All mentors must attend Mentor Fellow Orientation and Training.

IYT is committed to providing reasonable accommodations to applicants with disabilities. If you require accommodations during the application process, please contact IYTMentorFellowship@improveyourtomorrow.org to request assistance. We will work with you to provide reasonable accommodations.

IYT provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation and training.

Questions? Please email us at IYTMentorFellowship@improveyourtomorrow.org

Salary : $1,250