The Story Behind the Program
When visiting Ellis Island, Bernadette Ludwig, one of Culture Connect's original founders and an immigrant herself, was drawn to an exhibit which explored the lives of immigrant children. A journalist who is well-known for documenting the stories of these children on the streets of New York City, Jacob A. Riis, referred to them as "Go-betweens." A plaque on Ellis Island reads, "[the children were] shuttling back and forth like emissaries, carrying messages to doctors, landlords, or shopkeepers for their non-English speaking parents." Bernadette carried this idea with her when founding Culture Connect, Inc. and the Go-Betweener™ Mentoring Program.

The Go-Betweener™ Mentoring Program
Immigrants and refugees, especially children and adolescents, have the experience of "going between" their culture at home and American culture at school and in the community. This can prove to be especially confusing and challenging as these youth are often able to learn English and adapt to American culture faster than their parents. Sometimes, there may be little support and guidance present as their parents are working long hours at multiple jobs to survive. These children and adolescents are at particularly high risk for falling behind in school, dropping out, and becoming involved with drug abuse and gangs.

We match these youth very specifically with adult mentors who share 3 important characteristics with them:

1. They are also immigrants or refugees.
2. They are from the same (or similar) cultural background.
3. They speak the same home language.

This way, they are able to relate to and support their mentee in a way that no one else could. They understand the unique challenges that their mentees face, and they are able to communicate effectively with their families - connecting them with resources in the community and helping them to learn to be successful in the United States while maintaining their roots with their home culture.