Allison Walker, Generation to Generation

According to the Amachi program, 70 percent of children will likely follow their parent's path into jail without effective intervention.

The Amachi Program provides older adults as mentors to some of Central Florida's most at-risk kids.

But, as News 13's Allison Walker explains, mentors are getting younger and the program is getting more counties involved, too.

Next week, the man who helped create the Amachi program is speaking at a public breakfast to try and get more people involved.

Organizers of the program said more and more people are interested in becoming mentors, which is why they're accepting people from Seminole and Osceola counties, instead of just Orange.

Currently, 34 retired or senior volunteers are matched with a kid whose parents are in jail or have been in jail.

These mentors try and lead children on the right path, so they don't wind up in jail like their parents.

The mentor meets with the child about once a week. They hang out, play ball, do homework -- all kinds of stuff.

Although 55 years old is their target range for volunteers, organizers say they are now recruiting mentors a few years younger, hoping to expand the program.

Thursday is the last day to sign up for the free Amachi mentoring breakfast and seminar with the Rev. Dr. W. Wilson Goode, Sr.

The former mayor of Philadelphia is coming to Orlando to talk about mentoring expectations, building strong relationships, and ways to communicate effectively with at-risk kids.

The session takes place on Tuesday, May 6 at 8:30 a.m. at the New Covenant Baptist Church, 2210 South Rio Grande Avenue in Orlando.

If you want to attend, call (407) 422-1535 or e-mail rsvp11@earthlink.net by the end of the day Thursday.

Organizers say most matches are made within a 10-mile radius of the volunteer's home.

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