Mentorship Program Helps Linn County Youth Blaze Their Own Trails

CEDAR RAPIDS — As a freshman at Washington High School, Daysha Gibson said she felt confused about her future. Should she go to college? Enter the workforce?Some would say to her, “Follow your dreams,” but she hadn’t yet identified hers.Three years ago, that began to change when her mom placed her in nonprofit Four Oaks’ TotalChild workforce program, an initiative that connects youth with supportive services until age 26 to help them identify their passions and set sustainable career goals.Program participants have the option of connecting one-on-one with a community mentor who can provide guidance based on real-world experience.