Why Relationships Outside Our Usual Social Circles Build Stronger Communities
Strong relationships can help teens feel known, connected, and supported. See how mentors and community give young people more places to belong.
Building the Village
StoryMentoring
The story
We’ve all heard the saying, “It takes a village.” For OhanaHC founders Susan and Steven Porter, that wasn’t just an idea. It was something they wanted to build.
That vision is what drew volunteer and mentor Chris Maynard to OhanaHC.
I joined Ohana because the vision that Steven and Susan showed inspired me. It’s easy to just say ‘it takes a village’ and leave it there. They said, ‘let’s build our own village for these kids that need us.’ How could I not join that effort?
That village has continued to grow. Today, more than 140 mentors are part of a community that surrounds young people, and one another, with encouragement, connection, and a willingness to show up.
For Chris, joining OhanaHC meant becoming part of something bigger: a community choosing to build the support young people deserve.
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Refer a student
Every story here started with an introduction
Somebody told a ninth grader about OhanaHC. If you know a young person in Howard County who could use more adults in their corner, connect us.