Volunteer
Spark Change – Volunteer with FLY
Our fantastic network of volunteers has helped us achieve incredible results! Last year alone, more than 200 volunteers provided thousands of hours of service to our youth. We are always looking for energetic individuals to become mentors or facilitate our law classes. We provide excellent training and support throughout your time with us. Or perhaps you would like to complete an internship with FLY or contribute other talents and skills. As part of the FLY family, you will create hope and spark change in young lives!
Be a Mentor – Santa Clara and Alameda Counties
Many of the youth who come to FLY don’t have positive adults in their lives. Just by giving a few hours a week of one-on-one attention, support, and encouragement, you can spark important changes in a young person’s life. The FLY CAFA (Court Appointed Friend and Advocate) Mentor Program matches motivated adult volunteers with youth ages 14 to 18 on probation in Santa Clara and Alameda Counties. Through the mentoring relationship, youth have a consistent sounding board and a caring person in their life. As a result, they report that they want to make positive changes, that they now have hope for their futures, and that the program has given them more confidence to deal with negative peer pressure.
You and your mentee will spend time together weekly doing the things you like to do. You’ll also get to participate in fun monthly activities, which in the past have included white water rafting, laser tag, ice skating, and a high ropes course. In addition, as a CAFA mentor, you’ll be granted legal standing to act as an advocate for your mentee in the courtroom and at school. You’ll both be supported throughout the match by a FLY case manager, who also helps the mentee set and achieve new life goals.
Mentors must be 21 years of age or older, and willing to meet one-on-one weekly with youth. Also, because building trust and sparking change takes time and consistency, mentors must be willing to make a 12-month commitment. For more information about becoming a volunteer mentor, you can read our FLY CAFA Mentor Job Description and contact the following:
Santa Clara County: Shriel Deogracias at (408) 444-1961 or shriel@flyprogram.org
Alameda County: Cassidy Higgins, (408) 504-5705 or cassidy@flyprogram.org
Teach Legal Education – Santa Clara, San Mateo, or Alameda County
In the FLY Law Program, our staff and highly trained volunteers teach a fun, interactive 12-week course using our nationally recognized legal education curriculum, which covers relevant topics such as police encounters, accomplice liability, three strikes, theft, vandalism, drugs, gangs, and police arrests. The curriculum is interesting and engaging to the youth, and is an excellent vehicle for us to teach critical life skills like anger management, problem solving, conflict resolution, and resisting negative peer pressure. Read more about the program here.
Teams of two to four facilitators teach FLY’s this course in high schools, middle schools, community centers, and juvenile facilities in Santa Clara, San Mateo, and Alameda Counties. Classes meet once a week for approximately 12 weeks. Facilitators must be 21 years of age and commit to weekend training and teaching the full 12-week course. No prior legal education or experience is necessary — FLY provides a well-developed curriculum and training. For more information about becoming a volunteer law facilitator, you can read our FLY Law Volunteer Job Description and contact the following:
Alameda County Law Program – Trevor Arceneaux, trevor@flyprogram.org, or 510-813-6691
San Mateo County Law Program – Joseph Gallo, joey@flyprogram.org, or 650-213-6794
Santa Clara County Law Program – Vianni Garcia, vianni@flyprogram.org, or 408-263-2630
Santa Clara County Middle School Law Program – Cassidy Higgins, cassidy@flyprogram.org, or 408-504-5705
Other Ways to Volunteer
- Our internships appeal to individuals of diverse interests and talents and all include youth program involvement and professional development opportunities. View the current list of internships and download the internship application.
- Do you have other talents and skills you are interested in sharing with FLY? Contact Reyna Martinez, reyna@flyprogram.org, or 408-881-4529.
“Before FLY I was a hopeless and lost child. And now with FLY’s help I am on my way to becoming a successful adult.”
— FLY Youth
