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Alexandria Mentoring Partnership

The Alexandria Mentoring Partnership (AMP), formed in 2006, comprises a variety of local mentoring programs with the shared mission of ensuring that quality mentors and mentoring programs are available for Alexandria's youth and young adults in need. With guidance and resources from the MENTOR National, AMP works to maximize mentor recruitment, screening, and training to ensure best practice programs.
Page updated on May 5, 2025 at 4:38 PM

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AMP Banner

Who We Are

The Alexandria Mentoring Partnership (AMP) has been a cornerstone of our community since 2006, bringing together a network of local mentoring programs united by a common purpose: to ensure that every young person in Alexandria who needs an advocate has access to a caring, well-trained Mentor. With the support of MENTOR National, AMP provides the tools, training, and guidance needed to recruit, screen, and prepare mentors so they can make a lasting, positive impact. Together, we're helping our youth grow, thrive, and build brighter futures—one meaningful connection at a time.

Our Mission & Vision

The Alexandria Mentoring Partnership's mission is to unite mentoring programs across the City to expand access to high-quality mentoring for Alexandria’s youth. We support this mission by fostering program development, building organizational capacity, strengthening community partnerships, and providing targeted support through diverse mentor recruitment and best practices training. We envision an Alexandria where every child who seeks guidance has a caring mentor by their side.

Our Story

In 2006, a series of community meetings revealed a consistent theme: Alexandria’s youth needed more positive adult role models. This message echoed at the City’s Gang Awareness Summit, where over 600 attendees emphasized the importance of mentoring, and again at the Alexandria Community Services Board's annual hearing, where residents and youth testified to the life-changing potential of strong mentorship.

At the time, mentoring programs across the City operated independently with little coordination. To unify and strengthen these efforts, community leaders, City staff, school officials, and nonprofit partners came together to form the Alexandria Mentoring Partnership (AMP). The City’s Gang Prevention Coordinator initially served as the AMP Coordinator.

As the need grew, the City created a full-time AMP Coordinator position in 2021. This role enabled the development of key initiatives, including a centralized referral system, a citywide awareness campaign, and a quality assurance model based on national best practices.

Today, AMP supports over 700 mentoring relationships each year, partnering with schools, nonprofits, faith-based groups, City agencies, businesses, and local residents. Mentors commit to just one hour a week for one year, but the impact lasts a lifetime.

Our programs offer a variety of mentoring formats—one-to-one or group-based, academic or activity-focused, on-site or community-based—serving students from elementary through high school. At the core of every AMP program is the belief that every child in Alexandria who needs a mentor should have one.

Learn how you can get involved:

Become a Mentor

AMP News

Become a Mentor Webbox 2

Become a Mentor!

Make a lasting impact—become a mentor! The Alexandria Mentoring Partnership is looking for caring, committed adults to support and inspire the youth of Alexandria. Our kids need you. Click here to get started.

Community Training AMP

Building Developmental Assets Training

Join us on May 22 for the Everyone’s an Asset Builder Training, an inspiring session where you'll learn about developmental assets, connect with others, and leave equipped and energized to make a lasting impact in your community! Click here to register.

Become a Mentor

Mentoring is proven to decrease the risk factors associated with crime, substance abuse, teen pregnancy, poor school performance, and gang affiliation.

The Alexandria Mentoring Partnership is currently seeking dedicated, caring, and enthusiastic adults to serve the youth of Alexandria. Our City's children need you!

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No prior experience is required, and we provide extensive training on how to be an effective mentor.

If you are interested in mentoring a child for at least one hour a week, submit a Mentor Interest Form or contact the AMP coordinator by email at mentoring@alexandriava.gov or call 703.746.4455.

Apply Now

AMP Program Information

Our mentoring programs vary in structure, though the standard minimum requirements for mentors include an application, criminal background check, and the ability to commit for at least one hour, once a week, for one year.

Mentoring takes many forms:

  • One-to-one mentoring or group mentoring
  • On-site or community-based mentoring
  • Academic or activity-based mentoring
  • Elementary, middle school, or high school mentoring

At the heart of all the AMP programs lies a common belief that mentoring positively impacts youth development and that every child in the City of Alexandria who needs a mentor should have one.

View all AMP Programs

AMP Programs

Alexandria Tutoring Consortium Logo

Alexandria Tutoring Consortium

Alexandria Tutoring Consortium supports struggling readers by providing one-on-one tutoring for kindergarten through 2nd grade students from October to May. Each volunteer receives training and ongoing support, delivering customized lesson plans during the school day.

Building Your Power Logo

Building Your Power

Building Your Power is a mentoring program that fosters healthy community relationships and reduces truancy among middle school students through positive engagements and connections to after-school, weekend, and summer programs and jobs.

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Casa Chirilagua

Casa Chirilagua is a Christian nonprofit in Chirilagua/Arlandria that transforms communities through relationship-building, boosting academic confidence, and supporting the well-being of 1st to 8th-grade students.

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Community Lodgings

Community Lodgings provides group mentoring for middle school students on Monday evenings for 1.5 hours, focusing on life skills, conflict resolution, and boundary-setting in a safe and supportive environment.

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Space of Her Own (SOHO)

Space of Her Own (SOHO) aids girls from under-resourced communities by fostering healthy living and good decision-making through mentoring and hands-on classes. The program meets on Tuesdays and Wednesdays from 5:30-8:00 p.m., offering ongoing support into middle school.

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The Spitfire Club

The Spitfire Club is a book club for 5th-8th graders promoting children's literature with diverse, strong female protagonists. It fosters an inclusive community, enhancing literacy, social-emotional skills, and a love of reading among its members.

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Wright to Read

Wright to Read offers one-on-one literacy tutoring and mentoring for 1st to 5th graders, collaborating with families and schools to support each child's success. Sessions last 1 hour, held weekly at local libraries after school, in the evening, or on weekends.

Ready to Volunteer?

Fill out a Mentor Interest Form to be connected with the Alexandria Mentoring Partnership program of your choice. The program will follow up with details on time commitment, structure, and next steps.

For more information, contact the AMP Coordinator at 703.746.4455 or mentoring@alexandriava.gov.

The Benefits of Mentoring

Mentoring creates a lasting impact for both mentees and mentors.

Participants often report stronger self-esteem, better communication skills, and a greater sense of connection and purpose. The Alexandria Mentoring Partnership is committed to making these life-changing benefits accessible to all youth and mentors in our programs.

Why Mentor?

Mentoring works—and mentors agree.

Ninety-six percent of mentors recommend the experience to others. As a nationally recognized best practice, mentoring significantly reduces the risk of crime, gang involvement, teen pregnancy, drug use, and academic failure. Youth with mentors are more likely to graduate, make healthier choices, strengthen relationships with adults and peers, and develop essential social and emotional skills.

Build Community

Mentoring is a powerful way to give back and strengthen your community. By supporting a child’s growth and development, you’re also investing in a stronger, more connected Alexandria. Every empowered, supported child has the potential to uplift others—creating a ripple effect of care, confidence, and opportunity.

Inspire Youth

Mentors help shape the leaders of tomorrow. By offering guidance during a child’s most formative years, you provide the support, perspective, and encouragement that can influence the course of their future. Your mentorship can be the spark that helps a young person grow into a confident, capable adult.

The Power of Impact

You don’t need a cape to be a hero. As a mentor, the time you invest brings encouragement, confidence, and purpose to a young person’s life—and transforms yours in the process. Few things are more rewarding than knowing you've made a lasting difference, and no praise is more genuine than the admiration of a child.

Growing Together

As a mentor, you’ll have the incredible privilege of experiencing a child’s curiosity and refreshing honesty. While every journey has its ups and downs, the moments of growth and discovery will be truly rewarding. Watching your mentee learn something new or experience a milestone for the first time will fill you with pride and joy, making every step of the journey worthwhile.

Connect with Like-Minded Individuals

Becoming a mentor opens the door to a network of service-oriented community members. Through information sessions, training, and events, you'll connect with others who share your passion for making a difference. Some mentoring programs even offer group-based mentoring, giving you the chance to bond with fellow mentors and enrich your experience together.

Ready to learn more?

Apply Now

What Makes a Great Mentor?

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Success Stories

Alexandria Tutoring Consortium:

The Alexandria Tutoring Consortium has over 300 volunteers who work one-on-one with students, tutoring them in reading and building their confidence.
 
One kindergarten Book Buddy had such an excellent tutoring session that he asked to borrow that day’s book. When his tutor asked why, he said he wanted to read the book to his classmates. His friends sat on the carpet while he projected his book on the screen and read them a story.
 
THIS is the confidence and pride that a one-on-one relationship can build. THIS is what makes the world a better place.

Alexandria Tutoring Consortium Book Story


Space of Her Own (SOHO):

When a Black Hawk helicopter fatally collided with American Airlines Flight 5342, hundreds of Alexandria’s emergency responders raced to the scene. After the around-the-clock recovery effort, SOHO mentors stepped up to honor & support these community heroes.

SOHO strives to provide trauma-informed mentoring and foster the emotional safety needed to process and heal from trauma in a supportive group atmosphere. It was our honor to extend this mission to AFD heroes.

SOHO Serves

Click to learn more

Wright to Read:

Mentors:

  • “My student was really engaged with this project this summer, reading more books than he was required to! And (miraculously) he has agreed to read his poem from [the WTR literary magazine] this spring at the Welcome Event. This is a big step for him!  He has also been enrolled in all of the honors courses for this school year, so he has really progressed from when he first started Wright to Read.” – WTR Tutor-Mentor.
  • “My student is always…ready to show or tell me something important to her. Working with her is pure joy and fun!” – WTR Tutor-Mentor.

Mentees:

  • “You’re the greatest because you’re kind, patient, and nice. I appreciate you helping me with over 19 books! You help me understand when I’m struggling with words… I will never forget you!!!” – WTR Student.
  • “My mentor makes me feel like Albert Einstein.” – WTR Student
  • “Wright to Read mentors are important because, from my personal experience, this has been life-changing.” – WTR Student

 Alexandria Mentoring Partnerships

Community Lodgings

Space of Her Own (SOHO)

Wright to Read

AMP Supporters

Alongside its impactful partner mentoring program, AMP actively teams up with local businesses, community organizations, and City of Alexandria departments to create meaningful connections and expand its community reach.

Current Supporters

  • ACT for Alexandria
  • Alexandria Boys and Girls Club
  • Alexandria City Public Schools
  • Alexandria Community Services Board
  • Alexandria Community Trust
  • Alexandria Court Service Unit
  • Alexandria Parks and Recreation
  • Building Momentum
  • Capital Alumni Network
  • Center for Alexandria's Children
  • City of Alexandria
  • Give Back Alexandria
  • MENTOR Maryland/DC
  • MENTOR Virginia
  • MentorPrize
  • Northern Virginia Family Services
  • The Alexandria Jaycees
  • The Campagna Center
  • The Substance Abuse Prevention Coalition of Alexandria
  • Together We Bake

Support the Cause

If you are interested in collaborating as a supporter of AMP, please contact the AMP coordinator by email at mentoring@alexandriava.gov or call 703.746.4455.

More Ways to Get Involved

Other Volunteer Opportunities:

  • Alexandria Tutoring Consortium
  • Volunteer Alexandria

Resources

Program Management Resources

  • Creating a Quality Community-Based Mentoring Program
  • Risk Management and Youth Safety Components for Mentoring and Youth-Serving Programs
  • The ABCs of School-Based Mentoring
  • Tips for Recruiting and Retaining Mentors
  • Guide to Mentoring Boys and Young Men of Color
  • E-Mentoring Supplement to the Elements of Effective Practice for Mentoring

Mentor Training Resources

  • Becoming a Better Mentor: Strategies to Be There for Young People
  • Training New Mentors

Mentor Guides & Handouts

  • 4 S's Interview
  • Activities Catalog for Mentors and Mentees
  • Experience Mentor Toolkit
  • Mentoring Fact Sheet
  • Gender Specific Mentor Fact Sheet
  • Goal Setting Guide
  • K-12 Journey Map
  • Responding to Disclosures of Sexual Violence as a Mentor
  • The Mentor Guide to Youth Purpose
  • Trauma Resource Guide

Follow Us on Social!

AMP Instagram Webbox

Instagram

AMP Facebook Webbox

Facebook

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Alexandria City Hall
301 King Street
Alexandria, VA 22314

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