Who is a Hope Promoter?


At Save Our Youth, we believe one of the greatest challenges facing today's young people is hopelessness—especially for youth who are under-resourced or facing circumstances beyond their control. Through mentoring, we have the opportunity not only to help young people experience hope, but to equip them to share that hope with others.
So we decided what an amazing opportunity if we were able to support our mentees to become "Hope Promoters" which we define as "a young person who cultivates their own hope and invests it back into their relationships and community, creating a lasting legacy of hope."

NOMINATE A FUTURE HOPE PROMOTER

Hope is meant to be shared.

Some young people are beginning to see that their story, strengths, and experiences can make a difference—not only in their own lives, but in the lives of others. Our Hope Promoter Track is an intentional growth experience for Save Our Youth mentees who are in 9th-11th grade and ready to grow their own hope, develop their influence, and invest in their relationships and communities.

We know we often tell our mentors that mentees need a mentor to see and believe in them. This is 100% true AND we realize that some of our mentees are now ready for that same person to challenge them, provide intentional opportunities to grow, and help them apply what they're learning in everyday life!

Who Is A Strong Candidate?

We are looking for current Save Our Youth mentees entering their freshman, sophomore, or junior year. We're not looking for the "best" mentees. We're looking for mentees and mentors who demonstrate the desire and readiness to intentionally grow over the next year.

The three biggest predictors of success are:

    Ready – Mentee genuinely wants to grow.  

    Reliable – Mentee and their mentor will engage consistently.  

    Receptive – Mentee is open to new people, experiences, and faith conversations.  

Communication, leadership, networking, and public speaking are not prerequisites. Those are skills the Hope Promoter Track is designed to develop.

NOMINATE A FUTURE HOPE PROMOTER

Ideal participants: Think less about who has already become a leader and more about who is ready to become one. They are someone who...

✅ Demonstrate a desire to grow 

  • Open to feedback  

  • Curious and willing to try new things  

  • Shows initiative or is beginning to  

✅ Are engaged in their mentoring relationship 

  • Generally consistent with meetings  

  • Mentor believes they will complete activities together  

  • Relationship is healthy enough to build on  

✅ Are willing to make a commitment 

  • Can attend required events  

  • Will follow through on badge activities  

  • Parent/guardian is supportive  

✅ Are open to exploring faith 

  • Comfortable participating in conversations about faith  

  • Respectful of Christian perspectives  

  • Not required to already be a Christian  

✅ Could benefit from expanded opportunities 

  • Would benefit from increased confidence  

  • Would benefit from exposure to new people, careers, and experiences  

  • Has leadership potential that hasn't been fully developed   

✅ And a mentor who: 

  • Would enjoy adding a bit more structure to their mentoring time 

  • Believes their mentee is a good fit and will engage 

  • Is willing to provide feedback during this pilot year 

  • Understands this is a year-long commitment. 

  • Is willing to complete approximately 10–15 badge activities with mentee. 

  • Will prioritize attendance at required events. 

  • Understands their role is to facilitate growth, not just complete a curriculum. 

The Pilot Year

The Pilot Year

The Hope Promoter Track builds on the mentoring relationship by giving mentors additional tools, experiences, and activities to help their mentees grow in influence, confidence, faith, and service.

It provides mentors and mentees with a shared roadmap for intentional growth.

Throughout the pilot year, mentors and mentees will experience workshops together, complete mentor-guided badge activities during their regular mentoring time, participate in a community project, and join a small cohort of Hope Promoters growing together.

Because this is our inaugural year, we are intentionally launching with a small group of matches. Participants will help us shape the future of the Hope Promoter Track by providing feedback throughout the year.

What Participation Will Require

What Participation Will Require

Participation in the Hope Promoter Track is designed to strengthen—not replace—your existing mentoring relationship. Selected matches will commit to participating for one year and should expect to:

  • Attend three in-person Hope Promoter events together throughout the year.
  • Complete approximately one mentor-guided badge activity each month during your regular mentoring time (10–15 total throughout the year).
  • Participate in a service project and other cohort experiences with fellow Hope Promoter participants.
  • Be willing to try new experiences, reflect on personal growth, and provide feedback to help shape the future of the program.

Before nominating a match, please consider whether both the mentor and mentee have the time, desire, and commitment to actively participate throughout the year.

The Badge Workbook

The Badge Workbook

Each match will receive a Hope Promoter Workbook with simple instructions and resources for every badge activity. These activities are designed to fit naturally into regular mentoring meetings while helping mentees grow in the areas of identity and purpose, communication, relationships and networking, faith and hope, leadership and influence, growth and resilience, and opportunity and exposure.

NOMINATE A FUTURE HOPE PROMOTER

Pilot-Year Schedule

The pilot year will include a combination of weekend workshops, mentor-supported activities, and a special summer experience.

  • Application & Selection – September 2026 (including an informational webinar for nominated matches the evening of Tuesday, September 1).
  • Program Kickoff Event - Friday 10/16 Evening & Saturday 10/17
  • Spring Workshop  – TBD - February or March 2027
  • Community Project Experience - TBD
  • Summer Leadership Retreat - TBD June 2027
  • Celebration Dinner (possibly) - July 2027

    • Final dates and participation details will be shared with selected youth, families, and mentors. Workshops will be held at the Save Our Youth office. Summer retreat will most likely be held over a weekend in Winter Park.

    **Dates/locations are tentative and subject to change.

    Meet Angela!

    Hi, I’m Angela, Education Manager at Save Our Youth. I’m excited to lead the Hope Promoter Track and support youth as they grow in hope, influence, and their ability to positively impact others. Please reach out anytime with questions—I’m here to help!