Youth Mentoring in Milwaukee
More than ninety young people are waiting for a mentor right now. If you can give a few hours twice a month for a year, one of them is waiting for you.
One Steady Adult Changes The Odds
Thistlewood started in 2008 with twelve matches in a Harambee church hall. The idea was simple then and still is: every young person does better with one more adult who shows up, listens and stays. Our mentors aren't tutors or counselors. They're the person who comes to the game, asks about the test, and is still there next year.
- Trainedvolunteers
- Backgroundchecked
- Monthlymatch support
- Familiesinvolved
Our Programs
Four ways to be matched with a trained adult for at least a year — plus how to become a mentor or support one.
Community Mentoring
Mentor and mentee meet twice a month, out in the city — the library, a game, the lakefront, a first museum visit. Ages 8 to 18.
School-Based Mentoring
An hour a week at a partner school during lunch or after class, for mentors whose schedules fit weekdays.
Teen Career Mentoring
High schoolers matched with a mentor in a field they're curious about, with job-shadow days and help with first applications.
Group Mentoring Nights
Tuesday and Thursday evenings at our center: homework, games, dinner and a room full of adults who care.
Becoming A Mentor
Apply online, meet our team, pass a background check, finish training — then we match you and stay alongside you.
Supporting Thistlewood
Each match needs training, screening and a year of support from our staff. Gifts, events and workplace giving make that possible.
You Don't Need To Be An Expert
A Few Hours A Month
Two outings a month for community mentoring, or an hour a week at school.
One Year
Consistency matters more than anything else you do. We ask for a year to start.
Willingness To Listen
Mentors don't fix things. They show up, ask good questions and keep coming back.
What The First Year Looks Like
The First Outing
Usually something easy — a walk, ice cream, a library visit. Our staff help plan it with both families.
Month Three
Routines form. Most matches have a favorite spot and a running joke by now.
Month Six
A mid-year check-in with the mentor, the young person and the family about what's working.
One Year
We celebrate together. Most matches choose to keep going, and many last for years.
Looking For A Mentor For Your Child?
Any Milwaukee young person from 8 to 18 can be referred — by a parent or guardian, a teacher, or themselves if they're a teen. There's no cost to families. We meet with you first, learn what your child enjoys, and look for a mentor who's a good fit. Some matches happen in weeks; for others there's a wait, and we'll be honest about how long.
- ✓Free for every family
- ✓Parents meet the mentor first
- ✓Monthly check-ins with our staff
In Their Words
I signed up thinking I'd be teaching him things. Four years in, he's taught me more about patience than anyone. We started with basketball at the rec center; last month I helped him fill out his first college application.
My daughter was so quiet after we moved here. Her mentor showed up every other Saturday, rain or snow. Now she's the one who talks the whole car ride home.
Our match support specialist checked in every month, and when I didn't know how to handle a hard conversation, she coached me through it. You never feel on your own.
Help Us Match The Next Ninety
Screening, training and a year of support for each match are what gifts pay for. Send us a note to give once or monthly, sponsor a match, or set up workplace giving — we'll reply with a secure giving link.
Matches Out In The City
Mentoring, Answered
Who can be a mentor?
Adults 18 and over who live or work in the Milwaukee area, can commit to a year, and pass our screening. Mentors come from every background and profession.
What do mentors and mentees do together?
Everyday things: shooting hoops, cooking, visiting the library or the lakefront, talking about school. Most outings are free or low-cost, and we share ideas and discount passes.
What support will I get?
Training before your match, a staff match specialist who checks in every month, and group events where you meet other mentors.
Does it cost anything?
No. Mentoring is free for every young person and family.
How do you keep young people safe?
Every volunteer is interviewed, reference-checked and background-checked, trained on boundaries and safety, and supported by staff for the whole match. Parents meet the mentor before the first outing.
Is my gift tax-deductible?
Yes, as the law allows — Thistlewood is a registered 501(c)(3). Every gift gets a receipt for your records.
Start Here
Want to mentor, refer a young person or give? Send a note and our team will reply within two business days.