N4N: Mentoring Invaluable For S. Florida's At-Risk Youth

MIAMI (CBS4) - Volunteering as a mentor is important to Judge Abby Cynamon, because she credits her mentors with changing her life.

"I am only where I am today because I had good mentors, I spent my teens in foster care" Judge Cynamon explained to CBS4's Nicole Maristany. "I did end up going to college, going to law school, and I'm here today".

She now volunteers as a mentor at places like The Miami Bridge, a haven for homeless and runaway teens.

"The youth that come here are all from the streets, they've been involved in gangs, prostituting" said Alfred Karram, Jr., founder of Miami Bridge's mentoring program.

As a local business owner, Karram started as a volunteer and now heads the mentoring program at the Bridge.

The mentoring program serves teens that have experienced a difficult past – but the program offers them a promising future for participants like 17 year old Danielle Cabo-Jones.

"Before I ran away I was abused, I was abused in every way I was physically abused, sexually abused, emotionally abused" Cabo-Jones shared, "You feel like you have family because you all understand each other".

When Danielle first came to The Bridge, she was reluctant to trust anyone, but through counseling and the relationship she developed with her mentor, things changed.

"What made everything different was that I realized that so many people cared - I didn't even think that was possible" said Cabo-Jones.

Today she's experienced success in the Job Corps program and plans to attend college next year.

"Danielle is a perfect example of what direct access to a facility like the Miami Bridge can result in" explained Karram.

Cabo-Jones says The Bridge helps her feel less alone, and gives her the courage to face new things, "Whatever comes my way, I'll take, and I know I'll always accomplish my goal because I know that there will always be someone".

To learn more about mentoring programs and The Miami Bridge, give Neighbors 4 Neighbors a call at 305-597-4404 or visit http://www.miamibridge.org/ .