Seattle CARES mentors are an extraordinary group of dedicated and caring men and women. The organization currently has 75 individuals working with 175 students in elementary, middle and high school, providing mentorship and programming opportunities. Read on to learn more about three of our incredible mentors.
Charrita Tatum is a lifelong Washington resident, mother of eight and a two-time cancer survivor. She has been mentoring and working with youth and families for many years through community outreach and violence prevention programs.
Charrita’s dedication to these outreach efforts was spurred by a tragedy she and her family suffered: Her husband was murdered by an act of gun violence. She found solace in helping others. “That experience transformed my pain into purpose,” she said.
Charrita serves Seattle CARES as a Rising facilitator and mentor, where she enjoys working daily with the young scholars. “I enjoy seeing youth gain confidence, develop leadership skills, overcome obstacles and realize they are capable of achieving goals they once thought were impossible,” said Charrita. “Being trusted to walk alongside someone during their journey is a privilege I never take for granted.”
Charrita looks to create opportunities for meaningful connection. She encourages her mentees to undertake community service projects, leadership workshops, group discussions, educational outings, shared meals or family-centered gatherings. “Sometimes the most meaningful moments happen during simple conversations or while sharing a meal,” she said. “Every activity is designed to build trust, confidence and healthy relationships.”
Jeff Forde grew up in New York City and graduated from the University of Wisconsin and the University of Arizona with degrees in child and family studies, computer science, and lunar & planetary science. He has been a software engineer for the past 25 years but has also spent a lot of time with kids: He was a 6th and 8th grade math teacher, worked as a counselor, and served as director of a summer camp for kids with HIV/AIDS.
Jeff has been a Rising mentor for eight years. His interest in mentoring stems not only from his employment and educational background but also from his own personal experience. “I was lucky enough to have a long list of mentors as a kid,” he said, “It helped me take advantage of different opportunities. Now it’s important that I show up and do the same for others.”
With his Rising students, he spend time talking about real world topics such as gun violence or police brutality. “During our discussions,” he said, “I also want to hear what the kids think about these things because they all process the world around them in different ways.” When asked to describe a mentor, Jeff chose three adjectives: empathetic, authentic and humble.
Chris Bailey grew up on Mercer Island and attended Washington University in St. Louis, where he earned a BA and was a three-year varsity letterman on the basketball team. After graduation, he spent a year at St. Louis University School of Law and then went into the work force, looking for a career that inspired him. He found it in staffing. Eventually, he started his own staffing company called MindSeekers LLC.
Besides running his own business, Chris is the board president of First Place which provides housing for homeless families as well as early-learning opportunities for African American children. He is also the executive director of the Mona Bailey Academy where he provides S.T.E.M. camps for middle school children of color.
Chris chose to become a mentor at Seattle CARES because it allows him to give back to many kids at one time instead of working with kids individually. As the father of two daughters, he knows the value of mentorship and adult guidance. “I believe it’s important for us in the Black community to give back to our youth and empower the future,” he says.
Chris has been a Seattle CARES mentor for five years where he is a facilitator at Tops Elementary and Mercer Middle schools. “I really enjoy the opportunity to work with Seattle CARES,” he says. “In fact, it does not feel like work at all.”
Think you have what it takes to be a mentor? Attend our free mentor orientation here.
We have some incredible stories to share about our programs, our mentors, and our successes in the past two years. For more information, take a look at our latest Impact Report detailing our impact in Seattle and King County.