Our Beginning
Creating Pathways to Change
Mentor For Change was born from a youth ministry in Lincoln Heights in 2013. Youth shared with their ministry leaders the need for legitimate employment. The ministry leaders observed that, to many youth, educational attainment and career aspirations were vague possibilities rather than a priority, as financial and environmental pressures pushed these dreams aside. Mentor For Change was established to address two pressing concerns: the lack of equitable access to educational opportunities and career dreams stifled by socio-economic burdens.
To create pathways to change, we facilitate the development of supportive communities and provide career-based mentoring, college-access support, social-emotional development, and personal development workshops. Since 2014, MFC has successfully graduated multiple cohorts, with 100% of mentees completing high school and 93% pursuing post-secondary education. 100% of our graduates who pursue post-secondary education are first-generation college students.
Our Approach
Relationship powers growth
Mentor For Change facilitates 1:1 mentee-to-mentor relationships for all of our students. We give every young person our full attention through personal development, real connection, and free access to support that helps them grow.
Relationships Matter
MFC’s Top 4 Initiatives
A youth’s path forward depends on the strength of their relationships — to family, neighborhood, and community. These four pillars guide everything we do.
Relationship Oriented Mentorship
Community Impacting Leadership
Academic and Professional Integration
Youth Economic Mobility
Meet Our Staff
Steven Yu
Executive Director
Esther Yim
Director of Programs
Amy Flores
Program Manager
Ashley Lopez
Social Media Coordinator
Jose Gutierrez
Credible Messenger
Tony Luu
Credible Messenger
Jessie Rodriguez
Operations Assistant
Youth Leadership
Youth Advisory Board
Composed exclusively of graduates from MFC’s DreamMentor program, the Youth Advisory Board is actively reshaping MFC to become not merely a youth-serving organization but also a youth-led organization.
Board of Directors
Paul Lee
Co-Chair
Eliza Kim
Co-Chair
Emily Chai
Secretary
Diane Yim
Treasurer
Daniel Lee
Board Member
Tim Yoo
Board Member
Johnny Chon
Board Member
Marbella Lupercio
Board Member
David Jae
Board Member
Dr. Michael Mata
Advisory Board
John Yim
Advisory Board
Our Partners & Supporters
Our work is made possible by our generous partners & supporters.
