Goodbye School Year, Hello Summer!

Aloha Common Grace and Mālama Mentors family.

A letter from our Program Manager, Isamu Jarman:

It has been about a year since my last newsletter entry—-who else feels like time is just zipping by?

It only felt right to reflect and give you folks an update about closing out the school year on a successful note!

Given all the transitions of staff changes, shifting school partnerships, mentors/mentees coming and going, we were able to end the ‘24-’25 school year with 11 school partnerships across Windward, Honolulu, and Leeward districts! It’s baffling how many different moving parts make up this organization and how we’re at the mercy of so many things simply out of our control. Still, the kids’ laughs, teacher’s affirming praise of the child, and measurable gains in student attendance, participation, and social skills make it all worthwhile. I guess that’s where faith comes in and knowing that everything will work out for good.

They say, “It takes a village to raise a child” and I believe what we’re doing here is no different—-offering 1-on-1 genuine connections to a lonely/at-risk keiki. We walk along side HIDOE public schools filling in the gaps where additional support is desperately needed.

As I write this, I’m proud, ecstatic, and grateful for what the team and I have accomplished over the year with your faithful, on-going support. One story I wanted to highlight is about a boy named Ivan in Waipahu. Right before Winter break, we had a special “Lego Day”. In the spirit of the Holidays and Christmas, we gave one Lego kit to each mentor/mentee pair. As you can imagine, they were excited and the intent was for the two to work together towards a common goal of completing the figure of Simba from the Lion King. After the activity, the mentee could take it home! When the kids returned to school, I had the chance to overhear how it went for Ivan. Initially, he shrugged and didn’t say much. But after a little poking and nudging, he slowly opened up and disclosed how for the first four days, he played with the Lego kit we gave him. Every day, he rebuilt Simba himself only to take it apart. Build, take apart, rebuild, take apart—-for four days in a row. Apparently, after the fourth day, he stopped because he started to get bored! After a brief comic relief, we asked him how come he played with the kit for so long only to get sick of it by the end. He then quickly responded, “It was the only present I had for Christmas”. At that moment my heart sank and realized these are the kids we are working with. The very kids who actually need a program like ours.

One thing I admire and respect about CG/MM is its ever ascending drive to improve. Year after year, it gets better. The program runs smoother, partnerships deepen, quality of mentoring.. mo’ bettah. You get it.

As we do our best to grow and provide exceptional service to our keiki, I’m equally committed to having the original spirit of Common Grace shine through. The simple notion of 1-on-1, face-to-face, genuine friendship building mentoring. Through the 1-on-1 connections, the core values of C.A.K.E. are naturally shared. Through the 1-on-1, a bond forms that last a lifetime. Through the 1-on-1, lives of those involved will be forever changed and for the better. As we transition to Summer, our team will be working hard to prepare for Fall and the next coming school year. Always, carrying forward the legacy and vision of my dad, Jay: to befriend a child and prevent gun violence in Hawaiʻi’s schools.

Know that your thoughts, prayers, donations, financial support, volunteering, and network references all help ‘raise the keiki’ and kids like Ivan will have simple but profound moments like the times he spent with Simba last Christmas.

Hope for our keiki.

Mahalo nui loa,

Isamu Jarman

Program Manager