SANFORD, Fla. — My Brother’s Keeper in Sanford is working to find mentors for 100 male students of color.

The program is designed to help young men of color develop life skills, career readiness, and community engagement. Many single parents in the Sanford community have children who could use a male role model, program leaders said.


What You Need To Know

  • My Brother's Keeper hopes to improve lives, reduce violence

  • The chairman of the Sanford group is Eddie Cochran

  • Men interested in mentoring can sign up by email

“[We want] 100 students to partner with local mentors, and role models, so that they really are getting the support that they need to grow and to foster great potentials in their lives,” according to Eddie Cochran, chairman of My Brother’s Keeper in Sanford.

Goals of the mentorship program include helping to reduce violence and improving the lives of young men. 

“We can provide young boys that opportunity to really see what it takes, what it means to be a young man and to take on the responsibilities of such,” Cochran said.

James Goodman has answered the group’s call to action.

“Certainly there are those who are less fortunate who might not have a father around, and if I could certainly be a positive male figure in their life, I’m certainly interested in doing that,” Goodman said. 

“It’s not always that you have to make your own mistakes. You can learn from other people as well, and then use that life experience that you get spending time with people to better yourself.”

The mentor program consists of bimonthly meetings and will include days filled with activities focused on teaching life skills.

Men interested in being a mentor can get more information on the My Brother’s Keeper call to action on the city of Sanford’s website and can sign up by email.