Our Mission
MENtors is committed to supporting boys and men in reaching their full potential as healthy members of their families and communities. MENtors is dedicated to driving sustainable change for boys, young men, men, dads, and their communities, enabling them to overcome injustice and promote awareness, education, support, and empowerment to fulfill their dreams and ambitions.

Why
We believe that boys, men and fathers can have a healthier social and emotional development that enriches their awareness, engagement, and connection, and helps build lasting relationships with themselves, their families and our community.
 
What is the  Problem we address?

Research shows that boys in the U.S. greatly suffer the impact of an absent father, resulting in higher rates of:

• Behavior disorder, and/or anti-anxiety/anti-depressant prescriptions, 
• School expulsion or drop out, 
• Binge drinking and substance abuse, 
• Violent criminal behavior and suicide.

Research shows that children from fatherless homes comprise:
• 63% of all youth suicides
• 71% of all high school dropouts
• 75% of all adolescent patients in chemical abuse centers 
• 75% of foster youth 
• 85% of all youths in prisons
• 90% of homeless and runaway children

Our Mission
Our program seeks to address [life] issues that affect and impact men in holistic ways, with an evidence-based approach emphasizing feedback from our participants.  Our team and volunteers work with boys, men and dads to honor and promote the healthy development of social-emotional growth through education, leadership, empowerment, and advocacy to support their development for the well-being of themselves, their families and our community. 
  • Boys Incorporated Club ((Boys Inc.) Middle school & high school boy age 10 to 18))
  • Men Box Project for young men and men focusing on the personal development and couple relationship
  • DADS: Supporting Father Involvement & Co-parenting
  • Boy, Men and Father friendly services community initiatives focusing on male friendly services
  • Community education and engagement efforts that advance, support and enrich the lives of boys, young men, men and fathers.
  • 100 MENtors Who Care initiative enlist the support, expertise and mentorship of men in the development of boys, young men, men and fathers in our community.

Our Board of Directors

The members of our board of directors are community leaders who have made a significant contribution to our community. Each and every one of them brings a unique set of skills, passion, and expertise to our organization.

Deutron Kebebew  Founder/Executive Director

Deutron Kebebew is a father, husband and a mentor to fathers, father-figures, and young people in our community. He is the Founder and Executive Director of MENtors Driving  Change for Boys, Men and Dads, a local social justices 501(c)3 nonprofit organization. Previously, Deutron managed and directed Supporting Father Involvement (SFI) evidence based clinical research project for over decade in Santa Cruz County in partnership with UC Berkeley and Yale University. He received his undergraduate degree in Electrical Engineering from UC Santa Cruz.

He has a strong passion and commitment to representing, supporting and working for children, youth, fathers and families. Deutron has extensive fatherhood involvement intervention expertise, training, knowledge, program experience and background in evidence-based program implementation with fathers and co-parents. He has over fifteen years of leadership and implementation experience and working with the Supporting Father Involvement curriculum and group work. Deutron has engaged and served over 4000 fathers and father-figures over fifteen-year period. Deutron has served on several community boards Children's Network, CASA, Smith Society and Watsonville Rotary Club.

Deutron is the recipient of  prestigious UC Santa Cruz Tony Hill Community Service Award, NEXTies Award- Next Generation of Community Leaders, United Way of Santa Cruz County - Community Hero Award and Rotary International Paul Harris Fellow Award.
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