The Story Behind Common Grace
Common Grace began in 1999 after founder Jay Jarman, a former youth pastor and storyteller, was deeply moved by the Columbine tragedy. While supervising detention at Aiea High School, he noticed how many students felt isolated and lacked caring adults in their lives. This realization led him to launch Common Grace, formally established as a nonprofit in 2003. The organization’s mission is to connect highly vulnerable youth—often facing challenges like homelessness, family instability, bullying, or language barriers—with caring mentors from faith communities, businesses, civic groups, and local high schools. Mentors meet with students one hour a week on campus to build trust, encourage growth, and offer consistent relational support.
Since its inception, Common Grace has matched thousands of students with mentors across O‘ahu, serving as a bridge between schools and communities. They have received recognition such as the Hawai‘i DOE Partnership in Education Award and state-level honors for their advocacy. Over the years, they have expanded their model to include high school students as mentors through their Mālama Mentors program, fostering leadership and compassion in teens while supporting younger children. With recent federal grants supporting their work, Common Grace continues to grow its reach, focusing on underserved schools in Kalihi, Waipahu, Ewa, and beyond, remaining committed to their vision of ensuring every youth knows they are seen, valued, and loved.
We are a small 501(c)(3) non-profit organization based in Hawai'i that facilitates partnerships between public schools, business, civic, and faith-based communities to provide mentors for highly vulnerable children.
School Partnerships
There is a child in every school that can benefit from a caring mentor.
Mentee
“I’m able to feel comfortable and have fun in Mālama Mentors.”
Mentee
"It's fun, having someone to play with, and it's not lonely."
Meet The Team
Aries Jackson
Executive Director
"God is calling me to serve Common Grace to rescue children through loving them as He loves me." Matthew 22:39 ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’
Isamu Jarman
Program Coordinator
"Common Grace/Mālama Mentors is for the kids—ending loneliness and bringing hope, one child at a time."
Stephanie Thomas
Operations Manager
"God places people in spots so that they can make changes. He did just this when He brought Common Grace into my life. Joining the Common Grace team will allow me to make a lasting impact on the island's youth. The impact on one child can have a ripple effect that can reach unknown depths. My hope is that during my time with Common Grace I can make an impact that is seen for generations to come."
Kayla Malapit
Program Outreach Specialist
"I strive to connect with and empower those around me, specifically those of the younger generation by providing support and guidance. Witnessing how Common Grace is impacting so many of young people’s lives, it has drawn me closer to the amazing community that is behind all their hard work!"
Kay
School Partnership Coordinator
"I'm so excited to come alongside Common Grace Pasifika as a School Partnership Coordinator. I have been serving the youth for about 2 years now, and I've become so passionate about equipping the next generation! I love to see them become the best version of themselves and to help them discover who and what they're meant to be. I am so excited to get my hands to the plow in being a part of the Pasifika Pilot Program!"
Myra Shindo
Project Coordinator
"I’m honored to serve as the Pasifika Pilot Project Coordinator and excited to help bring this new program to life. With broad experience in program coordination, community outreach, and creative problem-solving, I’m equipped to guide this initiative with care and intention. My experiences have strengthened my ability to connect with people, foster collaboration, and create opportunities that uplift others. I’m deeply grateful to be part of this journey and look forward to walking alongside our community, helping each person feel heard, supported, and empowered."
Renee Monczynski
Program Coordinator
I’m excited to share that I’ve joined the Common Grace team as the Program Coordinator! Over my diverse career path, I’ve had the privilege of working with some incredible people that happen to be at-risk populations, including veterans, military surviving children and teens, and those affected by natural disasters. I truly believe we all have the ability to show compassion and kindness and with it the power to empower others to live their best lives. I’m thrilled to be part of Common Grace because the values of the organization align with my own, and it allows me to continue my work with children, teens, and young adults. 💫 #CommonGrace #NewBeginnings #Empowerment
Our Board of Directors
Jay Jarman
Founder & Board Member
"'I see Him in every vulnerable child.' Matthew 25:35-36, 40 (NIV) God wants our lives to overflow with mercy, love, and compassion — the marks of His kingdom. As followers of Jesus, we have a choice: respond to unsettling realities in fear and withdraw, or follow Him in responding to the greatest needs of our day with love and hope."
Vehia Goo
Chairman of the Board
"Every time a mentor meets with their mentee they both become that much more able to imagine a better life for themselves. Every time they meet our future gets a little brighter."
Sally Manglicmot
Treasurer
"I simply asked the Lord to use me. I look forward to giving back to children by lifting them up as I was lifted up [informally] by a mentor when in the sixth grade, and that relationship has impacted my life in multiple ways since then."
Cal Jones
Board Member
"Common Grace is an outreach and mentoring program that exists to mentor students and walk with them through life, help them grow in their faith, provide them with the sense of family, and lead them toward self-sustaining adulthood. I am excited to be a part of that mission."
Joe Passantino
Board Member
“I am motivated to serve through Common Grace / Malama Mentors because they are passionate about serving students in the community. Our goal is to change the trajectory of students' lives and to help them on their path to be contributing members of society. The earlier we can intervene the better our chances are to help create success in their lives. "
Jules Guerrero
Board Member
"I am truly blessed to be part of Common Grace. I believe every child needs a great mentor in their life. Mentoring relationships promote a strong sense of belonging in youth which is essential for a healthy development. This then leads to children gaining confidence to reach their goals, developing social skills, making better choices, and most importantly building stronger relationships with those around them. I feel very fortunate to be a part of an organization who does exactly this and truly look forward to helping grow their vision."
Joshua Ching
Board Member
"The service provided through Common Grace meets a crucial need to develop and encourage our young people here in Hawai'i. Every student impacted leads to a brighter future for our keiki and community. I am excited and honored to serve in this important mission."
Max Fowler
Board Member
"Common Grace reaches Hawaii's students who need the most help. As a mentor for some years, it has been a blessing to see a life changed, one keiki at a time!"
Larry Takumi
Board Member
"I have seen how Common Grace's mentorship program works and how it can provide a meaningful impact on the lives of young children, as well as the mentors themselves. I fully support Common Grace 's emboldening the breadth of God's love through these mentoring relationships, and I want to help this program grow."
Brady Giusta
Board Member
"I believe in the mission. Lonely kids need friends."