FYSB Tribal Grantees Speak: William and His Mentor David, Three Affiliated Tribes

In this five-part series, we spoke with staff and young people living and working in programs that have received grants from the Family and Youth Services Bureau. Some are Tribal organizations; others are non-tribal entities that serve a large number of Native youth. Here’s what William, 15, and his mentor, David Williams, both from the Three Affiliated Tribes, in New Town, ND, had to say: 

William: I’m a member of the Boys & Girls Clubs and part of the Three Affiliated Tribes, in the Mandan Hadatsa Arikara Tribe. I started with the mentee program last year. I used to play chess with David, my teacher, so we got paired up.

David: We visited the White House in January to recognize National Mentoring Month. The national Boys & Girls Club put out a call for a representative from Indian country to be there in D.C., and Will has shown excellent initiative here in our programs. Last semester he had perfect attendance, his grades have gone up, he won the science fair. He was even invited to the National Native American science fair in Albuquerque. So it was a real no-brainer to nominate him.

William: I was the only Native American representative there, and the only Boys & Girls Club representative. There were a lot of other mentees, but I actually got to sit next to Michelle Obama on stage.

David: One advantage that Will and I have had is the consistency with which we meet. I’m his teacher, so I see Will every day, and we have that opportunity to meet and talk about goals. Any communities, but particularly native communities, can benefit from those kinds of close-knit relationships.

William: There are a couple people at this school who have mentors among the staff, and I really think it’s a good thing for kids to do. It helps your grades, it gets kids out to see sights. I wouldn’t mind being a mentor when I get older, helping somebody out.

The Mentoring Children of Prisoners Program funds programs that provide caring adult and elder mentors to children and young people who have a parent in prison. In FY 2009, FYSB awarded $49.3 million in funding to support 209 mentoring programs. Grant announcements are usually released annually in the spring. Read the past announcement. Sign up to be notified when new grant announcements are released.