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What is the CityLinC Mentor House?

The Mentor House is a new community resource designed to promote the vital role of mentoring in our area. Located in the heart of Battle Creek, the Mentor House provides much-needed meeting space, counseling rooms, office facilities and other resources to support a wide variety of programs and services. CityLinC owns and operates the Mentor House, but it’s also available for use by other groups involved in mentoring.

Take our free quiz to find out if mentoring might be for you. Click here now!

Where is the Mentor House?

The Mentor House is located at 66 Calhoun Street, next door to the existing CityLinC building and kitty-corner from the Charitable Union. The building itself was formerly a home that stood empty for many months. CityLinC volunteers and staff renovated the inside of the building in autumn 2009. Free parking is available behind the Mentor House and also on Calhoun Street. (See map.)

What’s the purpose of the CityLinC Mentor House?

At CityLinC, we believe that mentoring is one of the most powerful ways to help people in need. Government programs and support services can be helpful, but sometimes a personal relationship with a friendly mentor is the key to making lasting progress.

As our staff can readily attest, we’ve seen many cases of personal transformation at CityLinC that started with sound, compassionate mentoring. (See the other stories in this special issue for examples.) By providing a safe and welcoming place for mentoring in a central location, the Mentor House fills a key need in our area and will be used for many mentoring purposes.

Why do we need a place like the Mentor House?

First of all, CityLinC has grown significantly in the last two years, both by introducing new programs and by connecting with partner groups around the area. We simply don’t have the room we need.

More importantly, over the last five years we’ve seen rapid growth in the field of mentoring for a wide range of people in need. Today, mentoring is recognized as a proven, cost-effective way to address many problems and challenges that local residents are struggling with.

Mentoring addresses one of the basic human needs – relationship. As the old proverb says: “Two are better than one and a three-fold cord is not quickly broken.” Mentors aren’t there to “tell someone what to do.” Rather, a mentor serves as a willing listener, a trusted sounding board and good source of practical advice, drawing on the mentor’s past experience and training.

Who can use the Mentor House?

The Mentor House will be used both by CityLinC and our non-profit partners in the community. Some mentoring takes place in groups. At other times, mentoring is best handled on a person-to-person basis. Here are some examples of the types of people that Mentor House will serve:

• Single mothers
• At-risk teenagers
• Individuals and families coming for professional counseling
• Clergy groups and ministerial alliances
• High school and college students
• People re-entering society
• Senior citizens in need
• And many others

Some programs, such as our Foster Care & Adoption Center and administrative offices, will remain in the existing CityLinC building next door.

What facilities are available in the Mentor House?

The Mentor House offers both large meeting rooms and smaller rooms for individualized discussions. The décor is warm and inviting. Chairs, tables and related meeting equipment are already in place. A small kitchen and two bathrooms are also available. Certain rooms are reserved for office space and personal counseling.

How can my group take advantage of the Mentor House?

To use the Mentor House, please start by developing a working relationship with CityLinC. Tell us who you are, what your organization does (if applicable) and how you’re involved in mentoring today. To take that first step, please contact Marlene Lawson at (269) 969-9181.