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AGBU Generation Next (GenNext) is a free mentorship program open to middle and high school students in the greater Los Angeles-area who have the ambition and desire to grow personally and professionally. Cultivating meaningful relationships between teenagers of Armenian descent and positive role models, the program helps build confidence, improve academic performance and expand social capital.
Offering engaging opportunities for connection and self-discovery, students are matched with qualified mentors and participate in weekly meetings and monthly group activities including:
- One-on-one mentorship
- Exclusive events with industry experts in arts, entertainment, technology and more, based on the interests of the GenNext mentees
- Recreational after school programming including sports, museum tours, cultural outings and more
- Skill development sessions focused on teamwork and leadership skills
- Topic-specific seminars focused on career, mental health, civic engagement, financial literacy, violence prevention, and well-being
*Mentors undergo background checks as well as special training and monitoring by AGBU.
Since 1997, AGBU GenNext has empowered the youth to reach their full potential. Learn more about the program.
Register Your Child
Open doors to the future with supportive mentorship, friendship connections and after school activities.
Become a Mentor
Help make a significant difference in the life of a young Armenian by becoming a positive role model.
Refer a Student
School administrators and teachers can identify students who can benefit from our programming.
Our Partners
CITY OF GLENDALE
GenNext is a recipient of the Community Block Grant - Round 3 used to expand the program to middle school and high school students.
GUSD
We are proud to work with the Glendale Unified School District for many years, formalizing our collaboration by signing an MoU in 2020 to provide resources to middle and high school students.
YWCA OF GLENDALE
The YWCA has generously provided office space to enhance the recreational opportunities for GenNext members.
Frequently Asked Questions
The mentorship program is completely free of charge for both students and mentors. While we do have a registration deadline of October 15 for each calendar year, we accept applications on a rolling basis throughout the year to accommodate to the needs of the community.
For students, the value of having a mentor is undeniable. Among the many benefits, a good mentor can help a mentee become more efficient, learn new skills, develop greater confidence and make more logical decisions. Research shows that mentoring has a positive impact on youth and leads to improved grades in school, higher self-esteem, and increased emotional and social development.
Mentoring is about advancing the learning and development of the mentee. A mentoring relationship is most effective when the mentor and mentee take the time at the beginning of the relationship to set specific, measurable, and meaningful goals. Mentors aim to listen, provide guidance and be a positive role model for their mentee.
One-on-one meetings between the mentor and the mentee can be virtual (by phone, e-mail, text message or Zoom) or in-person, at a location approved by the parent in advance. Some group activities will be virtual while others will take place in the AGBU Center in Pasadena or elsewhere, agreed by the group in advance.
If you are a school administrator (teacher, counselor, principal), please submit a referral form online. We will then contact the student's parent or guardian to further explain the program and pursue enrollment. As an educational partner, we appreciate your reference and hope you will also communicate about the program to the family. To refer a student here click here.
Parents are invited to take part in the orientation session after registration.
Topics covered during the session include:
- An overview of the program
- The role of the mentor-and how it differs from the role of a parent
- An explanation of why their child is participating
- An explanation of who the mentors are
- Addressing safety concerns
- An overview of the mentoring cycle
- Clarification of the parents’ roles and responsibilities
- Communication between parents and the mentor.
Counselors and teachers monitor the mentee’s academic progress and communicate this to our program manager at various check-in meetings between parties. In addition, counselors and teachers may reach out with any concerns or positive progress points they feel should be shared to ensure positive collaboration between the parties to ensure the best care for the student mentees.
Evaluation of each match includes analyzing the individual goals set at the beginning of the program, monthly mentor reports, surveys and attendance to group sessions and seminars.
