Mentors for Academic and Peer Support

What is MAPS?

MAPS (Mentors for Academic and Peer Support) is a volunteer program at UCLA that takes UCLA students to two different low-income high schools in the Los Angeles area. These volunteers assist at either Jordan High School in Watts or Al-Hiba in Crenshaw. This program is meant to provide these high school students with the resources and the drive to attend college and seek higher learning. Not only that, but we also provide students with peer counseling to understand their mindset and to help them understand the importance of an education as well as being a good influence in their lives.

Why MAPS?

Too often do students of low income environments feel trapped within the system in place. Often times it is not even the student's lack of ambition but the sense of helplessness surrounding them that inhibits their academic growth. Schools like Jordan High School give off a sense of imprisonment, as it has high gates surrounding them and police officers encircling them. These students then get the impression that they are not in a learning environment, but in a jail. This mentality will greatly influence their behavior both in and outside of school, which leads to trouble. We as students of UCLA have a privilege to attend an established university with an almost unlimited amount of resources at our disposal. We should not only take advantage of this ourselves, but provide for students who do not get the same treatment.

How does MAPS work?

MAPS divides their days with the two different sites, spending three days in Jordan and two in Al-Hiba. Volunteers will be briefed on announcements they make or if they need to host a workshop (workshops range on "how to get into college" to scholarships). The rest of the time is spent tutoring for different classes that the students are in, or having a mentoring session that discusses the different things occurring in the student's life, in hopes to positively deal with some of the student's conflicts.

How can I get involved with MAPS?

The MAPS office is located in the Students Activity Center at UCLA. If you want to sign up to be a volunteer, visit the offfice and speak to the project coordinator, Sabrin Said. You will be given the option of which days you are able to volunteer (you can either go to site in the morning or afternoon) and then you will be trained to work with the students.

Any last thoughts??

The crime rate in the city of Los Angeles is inexcusable. Too often the problem starts when the person is young, and susceptible to the influences around them. With MAPS, you are able to take an active role in a student's life, and often times these students truly strive to excel in education. We can really be the difference in someone's life. So join MAPS and help the community!