From “Grandma” to Movement Builder: How Velez Childress Is Reimagining Mentorship

There’s a moment in every mentoring journey where young people stop showing up just because they have to…

…and start showing up because they want to.

For Velez Childress, that moment looked like a group of high school students walking into a room for a chicken biscuit—but staying for something much deeper.

Connection. Conversation. Community.

That’s when you know something real is happening.

A Second Career Rooted in Purpose

After a 35-year career in federal government, Velez could have chosen comfort.

Instead, she chose calling.

Through her leadership with Durham CARES Mentoring Movement, an affiliate of the National CARES Mentoring Movement, she stepped into a mission that’s bigger than any one program:

Getting young people on a trajectory toward thriving adulthood—early.

Not when they’re entering the workforce.

Not when it’s already too late to course-correct.

But while they’re still forming identity, confidence, and direction.

The Power of Proximity

What makes Durham CARES different isn’t just the curriculum—it’s who delivers it.

Velez made a critical shift early on:

Instead of relying solely on community volunteers, she began recruiting college students from North Carolina Central University.

That changed everything.

• The conversations became more real

• The relatability increased

• The trust deepened

These weren’t distant authority figures.

They were near peers—young people who had just walked the same path and made it to the next level.

And that proximity? It created credibility that no curriculum alone could manufacture.

The Leadership Move Most People Avoid

One of the most powerful parts of Velez’s journey isn’t what she built…

…it’s what she was willing to release.

As the program grew, she made a decision that many leaders struggle with:

She let others lead.

What started as her facilitating every session evolved into:

• college mentors leading circles

• site leaders running programs

• young voices shaping the experience

And every time she took a step back, something surprising happened:

The program got better.

“Every time I said, let’s try it—it was a win.”

That’s not just delegation.

That’s trust.

That’s succession.

That’s building something that lasts beyond you.

The Village Is Not a Metaphor—It’s a Strategy

There’s a line that stuck:

“Everybody knows it takes a village… but the village is on fire.”

That reality is what fuels the work.

And in Durham, Velez isn’t just running a program—she’s helping build an ecosystem.

Through a local collaboration model, organizations are coming together across:

• schools

• churches

• civic groups

• mentoring programs

• HBCUs

Not competing.

Collaborating.

Mapping resources. Sharing responsibility. Aligning efforts.

Because the truth is simple:

There’s more than enough work to go around.

Recognition Matters More Than We Think

One of the most powerful moments in the conversation wasn’t about systems or scale.

It was about a rope.

A graduation rope.

After four years in the mentoring program, students asked a simple question:

“Do we get something for this?”

And when they found out they would receive a rope and pin recognizing their commitment…

They cheered.

Not because of the object.

But because someone saw them.

Recognized their consistency.

Honored their growth.

In a world where many young people feel invisible, that matters more than we realize.

The Ask That Changes Everything

If there’s one takeaway from Velez’s leadership, it’s this:

People are more ready to help than we think.

You just have to ask.

She shared how even highly accomplished, busy individuals said yes when invited into the work.

That includes:

• professors

• former federal employees

• community leaders

There is no shortage of talent.

There is often just a shortage of invitation.

A Final Word: This Moment Requires All of Us

We are in a moment where:

• young people need direction

• communities need coordination

• systems need connection

And mentorship sits right at the intersection of all three.

As Velez put it:

“Our young people need us now.”

Not later.

Not when it’s convenient.

Now.

What This Means for the Village

This conversation isn’t just about Durham.

It’s about what’s possible everywhere.

• What if every school had mentoring circles?

• What if every college student saw themselves as a mentor?

• What if every retired professional re-engaged with purpose?

• What if every organization collaborated instead of competed?

That’s the village we’re building.

And it’s going to take all of us.