Forming an alliance: mentor’s perspectives on the role of family and social networks in cross-racial mentoring relationships with black youth

ABSTRACTLittle is known about how mentors’ interactions with youths’ families and broader social networks influences the mentoring relationship while considering differences in race and socioeconomic status between the mentor and the youth. This study utilized a constructivist grounded theory to examine how non-Black volunteer mentors perceived their interactions with the youth’s family impacted the youth mentoring relationship. The findings highlight the many benefits of mentors establishing a genuine connection with youths’ families and social networks and underline some of the difficulties associated with racial and class differences between the mentor and the youths’ family and social network.KEYWORDS: Youth mentoringblack youth and familiessocial networks AcknowledgmentsThis study would not have been possible without the current and former mentors taking their time to participate in this study. This study would also not be possible without the coordination and insight of the former CEO of BBBS of Central Texas and other staff members of BBBS across the country.Disclosure statementNo potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).Additional informationFundingThe author(s) received no external funding to provide financial support for the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.