Start with the young man in front of you.
Young men do not arrive with identical schedules, responsibilities, or support. A useful mentoring conversation starts with the person and one priority he is willing to work on. That may be school, preparation for work, daily responsibilities, or making a decision he has delayed.
Militant Legacy Project is building practical mentorship for young men ages 17 and up in Los Angeles County. We welcome conversations with families and community organizations about fit and current availability. A parent or guardian should join the initial conversation for a seventeen-year-old.
What the conversation should produce
The first useful result is a shared understanding of the issue. What is happening now? What would meaningful progress look like? Which actions are within the participant’s control? What information, skill, or practical support is missing?
From there, the work is a written agreement: a specific action, a realistic timeframe, and a way to review it. The mentor helps make the next step clearer and asks what happened. The young man participates in choosing the goal and carries responsibility for his part.
A practical mentoring cycle
Begin with a conversation about priorities and expectations. Use the 90-Day Legacy Plan to choose a result and break it into smaller milestones. Choose a repeatable action that fits the participant’s actual week. Review what happened before adding more demands.
These tools support a conversation; they do not establish a fixed meeting schedule or a guaranteed enrollment place. Ask about current format, availability, communication arrangements, program procedures, and any costs before agreeing to participate.
For parents, schools, and community organizations
A referral should preserve the young man’s interest and dignity. Share public program information first. Ask what he would find useful. Use the introductory contact route to discuss fit without sending private student, health, financial, or legal records.
Start with A Better First Conversation or explore a partnership. For an inquiry, email the project with your city, your relationship to the prospective participant, and a short description of the goal.