From MENTOR Rhode Island to MENTOR National: Advocating for a Better Future
September 6, 2022
Gabriel Capella is a sophomore at Providence College and is one of MENTOR’s 2022 Ambassadors. MENTOR Ambassadors are young people who work across departments at MENTOR to learn about the positive impact of the nonprofit sector and the role mentoring can play in helping young people thrive and strive. They serve as MENTOR’s youth voices across programs, campaigns, and events. We invited Gabriel to share his insights on his experience working with MENTOR National as well as at MENTOR Rhode Island.
My career at MENTOR started not nationally, but locally, with MENTOR Rhode Island. I go to school at Providence College and I study political science and economics. Since I left my homeland of Puerto Rico to start my college journey in Providence, Rhode Island in August of 2021, I have not forgotten about the importance of service — of caring for all those around you and helping them succeed.
My passion for service began in high school. I studied at one of the best schools in Puerto Rico, Colegio San Ignacio de Loyola. San Ignacio influenced all aspects of my personal and professional life, but the most important lesson that I learned is that we all have a responsibility to serve others. When I left high school to go to college in a somewhat distant and very different land than where I was born and grew up, I carried this lesson with me in my heart.
But no passion is a passion unless you put it to practice. A passion without practice is just a desire. Having a passion and putting it to practice is a commitment to a better world not only for yourself, but for those around you. I decided to once again, this time in college, in that distant and very different land than where I was born and grew up, put my passion for service into practice. I applied to be a Community Fellow at the Feinstein Institute for Public Service of Providence College. The Community Fellows program matches each Fellow with a different nonprofit organization in Rhode Island. Little did I know that my match with MENTOR Rhode Island was not just perfect – it was a match made in heaven. I began working with Christopher Margadonna, the Director of Training and Engagement of MENTOR RI. Let me stop quickly here to say how much I appreciate and admire Christopher. At the beginning he was simply my boss and I was his employee. But we quickly and naturally developed a relationship that went further than just a working one: we became friends. Today I consider him not only my friend, but most importantly, my mentor. He embodies what MENTOR is all about: caring for others, listening to them, and supporting them in achieving their dreams. Since the day I met him I felt like I could be myself, and one of the things that we always talk about is what we want to achieve in life, or what motivates us. I always told him about my passion for politics and advocacy, so in January of 2022 he invited me to participate at MENTOR’s Capitol Hill Day. I had the opportunity to advocate for MENTOR Rhode Island’s mission with Rhode Island congressmen and senators. It was an amazing experience. How ironic it is that I began at MENTOR not looking for a mentor, but hoping to help and serve others, and ended up with the best mentor in this world: Christopher.
When I became a Community Fellow at MENTOR RI, I began assisting the organization in its daily operations. I made flyers for events, reached out to other organizations for service project collaborations, and organized contact information of attendees of the organization’s events. I quickly fell in love with MENTOR’s mission and purpose. I knew that I was helping an organization that works to support young people and was part of a process of helping young people discover and achieve their potential. We are activists of the future advocating for the future of young people.
One of the things that I liked the most about MENTOR RI is how united and welcoming its team is. Every time I went to the team’s office, they would welcome me with open arms, and I was always excited to go back to the office. No one ever judged me for who I was. On the contrary, they always supported and motivated me to achieve my goals.
I think that is one of the best things at MENTOR National as well. There is a place for everyone, and I mean everyone. Everyone is welcomed because we know that each person has special talents and capabilities that could make our world a better place. And we help everyone discover and cultivate those talents and passions.