KENNEWICK, Wash. – January is National Mentoring Month. This annual campaign raises awareness about the value of mentoring and how it can shape someone’s life. Two local mentors who have turned their career paths to help guide the youth in our community.
Tobaski Snipes is a military veteran from North Carolina who moved to the Tri-Cities to be near his kids. During his time in the service, he learned to be a resource. Snipes started Snipes H3, a transitional housing and mentorship program.
“During my time here in the Tri-Cities, I learned early on there’s a lot of kids that are my kids’ age that need a lot of assistance, mentorship and guidance,” Snipes said. “I’ve had a lot of experience dealing with that age group. The 18 to 24-year-old age group.”
Snipes said he’s continuing to learn and grow. This is what he hopes the people he mentors do, too. He said mentorship is more than just a one-time event.
Joe Thornton is the founder of the Big Bro Joe Foundation. He said the Non-Profit organization has allowed him to give back.
“When I was growing up as a kid, I had a lot of male mentors in my life,” Thornton said. “They gave me guidance and direction. “Which allowed me to do remarkable things.”
Thornton said while he may be teaching and mentoring the lil’ bros, they also are teaching him.
“They take me back to a place where I was in my life as a lil’ bro and it really helps me guide and direct a lot,” he said.
Thornton is a former professional football player for the Tri-Cities Fever.
He said after his playing career ended, he turned his attention to another passion, mentoring youth and helping young mentors like Edward Sistrunk.
Sistrunk, like Snipes, served in the military, and while serving, he learned something, too.
“One of the most important values is selfless service and so with the selfless service, one of the acts of this is there’s so many ways you can display it,” Sistrunk said.
One of Thornton’s lil’ bros, Demarcus Kruger, said the mentorship he’s received from these three men is to learn and help the community and bond.
Thornton and Snipes said that one conversation, experience, or even a hug can change a person’s life.
