Short-Term Mentoring, Lifelong Impact

Phoenix, AZ – July 22, 2025

In Episode 15 of The Mentorship Blueprint, we celebrate over a year of conversations that honor the real, raw journeys of mentorship in our community, including life’s unexpected turns. This episode is more than a milestone—it’s a reminder of the impact that can unfold in even the shortest amount of time. At New Pathways for Youth, we know transformation takes many forms—and it doesn’t always take years.

Hosted by Mark Garcia, NPFY’s Director of Training and Curriculum, this episode features Angel Horowitz, a mentor who served in our Level Up Academy, a 10-week group mentoring program designed to spark transformation through consistent, twice-weekly sessions. You’ll also see and hear her powerful reflections in this video she posted after completing the program.

Angel shares what it’s like to build meaningful connections fast: the challenges of breaking the ice, the patience required when breakthroughs don’t come quickly, and the unexpected moments that prove mentorship works—even in small doses.

For anyone who has wondered if short-term mentoring can truly make a difference, Angel’s story offers a resounding yes: you can. Her experience shows that when you lead with presence, compassion, and belief in a young person’s potential, transformation can take root—and thrive.

Tune in to the Mentorship Blueprint Podcast—now streaming on Amazon Music, Apple Podcasts, and Spotify.

As we mark more than a year of The Mentorship Blueprint, we want to take a moment to thank all those who made this journey possible: to all the mentors and NPFY team members who have sat down with Mark and shared your truth—your courage is the heart of this work. Also, to our community of listeners and champions—you’ve helped us amplify the transformational power of mentoring far beyond Phoenix.

And to those who are feeling the call to get involved, now is the time:

Level Up Academy is expanding. Last semester alone, we brought our curriculum to Genesis Academy, Career Success Technical High School, and Camelback High School, helping even more youth access the tools and relationships to create new possibilities. We need mentors—people like you—willing to commit 2 hours per week for 10 weeks to walk alongside a young person in a powerful, group setting. Please contact Lindsay Stansfield at [email protected] for more information.