Team Orange County Youth Mentoring (Team OC) is a youth mentoring program for Orange County children aged 7-17. Team OC’s goal is to expand children’s possibilities through a community-wide mentorship program. Their approach is driven by the commitment to meeting the needs of the children, their families, and the community as a whole.
As an organization, Team OC aims to help by providing mentorships, resources, and opportunities that expand their view of what is possible for their future through hands-on learning opportunities and community support, equipping them with essential life skills. While knowing that social factors are big pieces of what affects young kids’ health and well-being, Team OC addresses those factors by creating a stronger foundation for their physical, emotional, and social growth, and helps these kids thrive both now and in the long term.
Team OC originally started from the vision of Ramona Osbourne who wanted to offer help to children who had four or more adverse childhood experiences. Her love for children was seen by all who interacted with her and so the vision started to become a reality.
“Ramona was not able to see Team OC thriving like it is today but her family has been able to. In honor of Ramona, we changed the logo to represent our community and the love for our community,” said Executive Director Priscilla Woodrum.
Team OC has been very active and has held numerous events recently. They rallied with the Paoli Police Department to create a drive-through event for families where kids could feel safe and supported during Halloween. They also introduced their new “Living Drug-Free Starts with Me: Rise Above the Influence “ initiative, giving young people the tools to make healthy choices.
“I can’t help but feel deeply moved as I think about for example all that Team OC has accomplished,” said Woodrum.
If you are interested in participating in this program, there are multiple ways you can be involved. Individuals between the ages of 7 and 17 can be a mentee. If you are an adult, you can be a mentor if you meet the requirements and fill out the required form. If you’d like to participate without being a mentor, you could also help by donating to Team OC and supporting their programs.