In this photo, a young girl wraps her arms around a teenage mentor, smiling with pure joy. This simple huge reflects something powerful: the deep bonds that form when youth are supported by others who’ve walked a similar path. In Frankfort and Franklin County, programs that lift up youth mentors as role models are creating meaningful change. When young people see
themselves reflected in someone just a few steps ahead, it builds trust, confidence, and a sense of belonging. These near-peer relationships validate lived experience and offer children a unique kind of support—one rooted in empathy, relatability, and hope.​