For families and young adults in Riverside, San Bernardino and the rest of the Inland Empire, Blackburn Mentoring works mostly by video, with in-person meetings in Los Angeles when they help. You get one dedicated mentor, a short set of goals broken into weekly steps and text and phone contact between sessions.
A huge region with long distances
The Inland Empire covers two large counties, from the citrus history of Riverside and the Mission Inn downtown to San Bernardino, the foothill cities along the 210 and the mountain communities above them. Warehousing and logistics along the 10, the 15 and the 215 employ a lot of people, and so do hospitals, schools and local government. Housing growth has brought many families east from Los Angeles and Orange County, often with a long commute attached.
Distance is the practical issue. Driving across the region can take as long as driving to the coast, so any support that requires regular travel tends to fall apart. That is why video is the default here.
Common goals in the region
- Getting a high school student back on track. Homework, sleep, attendance and a plan for after graduation, with a parent or guardian involved from the first call (mentoring for high school students)
- Balancing work and school. Many college students here work long hours and commute; a mentor helps build a schedule that holds (working while in college)
- Being the first in the family to go to college. Learning how the system works and asking for help early (first-generation college students)
- Finding a direction after school. Choosing between a trade, a degree and a job, and taking the first step (trade school vs college)
- Building a career from an entry-level job. Moving up, picking up skills and asking for more responsibility (how to get promoted)
Why video works well from here
A mentor who meets you on a screen can still know your week in detail. Sessions fit before a shift, at lunch or after the kids are in bed, and nobody loses an hour to the 60 or the 91. Between sessions, short texts and calls keep the week on track. When a longer, face-to-face conversation would help, such as a reset after a hard month, you can meet your mentor in person in Los Angeles. Our guide to online vs in-person mentoring explains how both formats work.
What mentors do, and what they do not
A mentor is a steady, practical guide who helps you set goals and actually follow through. Mentors are not tutors, therapists, doctors or admissions counselors. With permission, they share progress with parents or family and coordinate with professionals already involved.
For parents who are stretched thin
When both parents work long hours or drive far, it is easy for a teenager to drift without anyone noticing until report cards come out. A mentor adds a regular check-in that does not depend on a parent being home. For high school students, parents agree the goals and get regular progress updates; for older clients, updates go to family only with permission (mentoring for families).
Getting started
- Take the five-minute assessment (a parent can fill it out for a teenager).
- Our team reviews every answer personally and sets up a free intro call.
- One dedicated mentor is matched to you.
- Your first sessions set two or three goals, and the weekly rhythm starts from there, mostly by video, with in-person meetings in Los Angeles when useful.
Related
- Mentoring in Claremont and Pomona
- Virtual mentoring
- Mentoring in Los Angeles
- Mentoring across California
Common questions
Do you have an office in the Inland Empire?
No. Sessions for Inland Empire clients run by video, and in-person meetings take place in Los Angeles.
Can sessions happen around shift work?
Yes. Sessions are scheduled around your real week, and the time can change when shifts do.
Do you work with community college students?
Yes. Commuting, working and transfer planning are common reasons community college students work with a mentor.
How long are sessions?
Thirty or 60 minutes, weekly or several times a week, on a weekly or monthly plan.
Get started
Curious whether video mentoring would work for you in the Inland Empire? Call (888) 305 5422, email contact@blackburnmentoring.com or start with a short assessment. A member of our team reviews every assessment personally and sets up a free intro call.