Children in South Tucson are taking advantage of the University Of Arizona Department of Psychology Mentor Program, it currently has 50 children enrolled and about 20 percent are from South Tucson.
The mentor program works with children who are part of Pantano Behavioral Health Services, a federal and state funded program. The mentor program helps children with troubled backgrounds by providing a college mentor. The child and mentor meet once a week for four hours at a time to go to the park, go bowling, see movies and simply hang out. Dr. Julie Feldman, director of the mentor program and psychology teacher at the UA, has been with the program since it started, 10 years ago.
“The program is very individualized, it really does range in terms with what we’re trying to do with each child,” Feldman said.
The PBHS often has children in its program who have also been involved in the Arizona Children’s Association, a non- profit organization that helps provide a healthy family environment. The association claims it serves more than 45,000 children and families across Arizona annually.
Martin Felix, a 12- year- old boy living in South Tucson, has been a part of the mentor program for about three years. Felix and his grandmother, Tovar Salavar, who Martin lives with, enjoy the program and the opportunities. Salavar said the program has helped her grandson with his schoolwork, friendships and future goals in life.
“He’s experienced many different things and people through the program and now he’s not scared to be in any situation,” Salavar said.
Although Felix’s goal is to become an NFL player for the Dallas Cowboys, he received a unique experience through the program that may open other doors to different careers. Through Felix’s former mentor, Samantha Shulman, he was able to start in a short film in September. Shulman said she knew Felix would have fun making the movie.
“I thought Martin would be perfect for the part because he’s outgoing and really likes to do a lot of different activities,” Shulman said.
“Toy Soldier” is a four minute, non-speaking movie about a little boy and his father who is serving in the war. The film depicts a young boy playing army, running around pretending to shoot a gun, throwing grenades and having fun. The movie bounces back and forth between the boy’s home and the desert, where the boy continues to pretend he is in the war. As the film nears the end the boy is given a folded up flag and his excitement of pretending to be a soldier, like his father, ends.
“The crying scene was really hard, but I had a lot of fun doing the gun scenes,” Felix said.
Shulman, a pre-business major at UA, said the mentor program is a great experience for both the mentee and mentor. Shulman said that, although she is no longer Martin’s mentor, they stay in contact and have a strong relationship. To Martin, friendship and trust is a very important part of having a mentor, as well as, having a good time.
“Meeting different people and playing sports with different people is fun,” he said.
Bringing kids out of their shell is an important part of the mentor program, but being a friend and helping the children succeed is where the rewards come from. Although the mentors and mentees are only together for four months, the hope that the program leaves an ever-lasting memory of trust and fun is what makes the kids want to come back.
“I think I’ll be in the program a long time,” Felix said. “Cause I like everything about the mentor program.”
