LAKE COUNTY, Calif. — In partnership with Hope Rising, the Lake County Chamber of Commerce is now accepting applications for the 2022 Youth Mentorship Program.

They are also now meeting with interested business and community leaders who would like to volunteer to mentor our youth.

Created out of a desire to help guide young adults of Lake County through and beyond the effects of the 2020 pandemic and into a career focused and citizenship engaged mindset, the Lake County Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors spearheaded a one-of-a-kind mentorship program.

The Youth Mentorship Program is a practical, skill building program designed to assist young adults with tools and resources to help them secure jobs, learn to be career minded and become goal setters early on.

The Youth Mentorship program is open to young adults ages 18 to 24. The mentees are mentored by Lake County business leaders, carefully curated to provide training to build skills and confidence.

The program is delivered in collaboration with both Mendocino Community College and Woodland Community College faculty.

The Lake County Chamber of Commerce is proud of a highly successful first run in 2021, led by leadership coach Gretchen Mills, where participants attended weekly virtual classes led by academic faculty and local subject matter experts, met one on one with mentors to learn valuable job skills, and received collectible feedback.

The program is designed to better prepare our youngest citizens to be strong members of our workforce, meeting a great need that many in our business community face.

To accomplish this, the chamber is seeking supportive community and business leaders to volunteer to train and guide young people in the seven-week program.

As a result of the 2021 pilot program, six mentees successfully completed the training earning much more than a certificate of completion and a graduation ceremony, the mentees exited the program with the knowledge that they have the skill and ability to achieve career goals and are valuable citizens in the community.

“We are happy to share the success of one mentee who secured full-time employment shortly after graduation, and another who began an entrepreneurial endeavor selling clothing and crafts at farmer’s markets and festivals,” the chamber said in a statement.

Graduates of the Youth Mentorship Program are also often invited to other opportunities to connect with community leaders.

For example, all 2021 graduates of the Youth Mentorship Program received scholarships from the Lake County Chamber of Commerce to the Lake Leadership Forum held in June.

To apply to become a mentor or a mentee for this exciting program, please visit http://tinyurl.com/lakementorship.

Applications will be accepted through Sept. 2. Please reach out with any questions to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or 707-263-5092.