When Carl McAllister II first heard about our Workforce Prep Mentoring Program, it was through a simple email forwarded by his own mentor, Andrew Moore. “I immediately jumped on it,” Carl said. “Mentoring is a big part of my life already, but this felt different. It was more structured, longer-term. It felt like a real investment in someone else’s future.”
Carl, a Senior Quality Engineer at Lear, wasn’t new to giving back. But mentoring a group of 10th graders for an entire school year at Harper Woods High School was a step into new territory. “I had some nerves,” he admitted. “You wonder if the students will accept you, if you’ll connect, if you’ll really be able to make a difference.”
What happened over the 2024-25 school year? Carl connected, and not just with one student, but with three: Lonntez, Cliff, and Marcus. Together, they laughed, they planned, they worked through challenges. And along the way, they each grew in ways that couldn’t have happened without that consistent, caring presence that Carl provided.
“It’s like a bank,” Carl explained. “You can’t withdraw until you’ve made deposits. My deposits were showing up every week, whether I was on paternity leave, on vacation, whatever. I wanted the guys to know I was in their corner, no matter what.”
That consistency was especially meaningful for Lonntez.
On paper, Lonntez seemed to lack confidence and vision. “On his student profile, he wrote that his plan was to get a job after high school, but there were no details,” Carl recalled. “And after meeting him and talking with him, two things were apparent. First, he struggled to recognize his skills and interests and match them with a career field he might like. And second, it was clear that school wasn’t his thing.”
In the early days of our 10th grade program, we ask the Career Mentors to work with their students to create a team name, logo, and slogan. It’s a great way to build teamwork and camaraderie.
“What stood out was Lonntez’s creativity,” Carl said. “We were talking about our team’s name, ‘Finesse Success,’ and our logo. I created a logo with a graduation cap and FS on the front, and Lonntez just lit up with suggestions for colors, layout, spacing. That’s when I realized, this kid is a creative thinker.”
Through their conversations, Carl helped Lonntez recognize his strengths. “He might not think school is his thing, but creativity? That’s his gift. And now he’s starting to see it too.”
Carl’s impact didn’t stop with Lonntez. Cliff, another student, was struggling in English class. “We worked together to improve his grade,” Carl said. “I encouraged him to talk to his teacher, get the missed assignments, and make them up. He did that and his grade improved.”
Then there’s Marcus, who made a goal and met it fast. “He said he wanted a job for the summer,” Carl said, smiling. “Next week, he had a job at Little Caesars. Just like that. He’s a straight shooter, a humble guy, and a hard worker.”
Each student brought something unique to the table. And Carl met each of them where they were, with empathy, structure, and encouragement. As the weeks went by, they grew together, not just as a team, but as a unit built on mutual respect and shared purpose.
The experience changed Carl, too.
“I didn’t grow up around engineers or people in corporate roles,” he said. “My mom was my biggest role model, and I didn’t have many external positive influences. I looked up to the guys with the jewelry and the cars because that’s what I saw. It wasn’t until I went to Western Michigan University that I realized there were other paths.”
That’s why Carl shows up. Every session, no matter what. “You rarely become what you don’t see,” he said. “So, I’m showing these guys that there are other paths. And they’re already walking them.”
For Carl, mentoring in our program is more than a volunteer opportunity, it’s a calling. “With everything kids are facing – social media, academic pressure, tough home situations – they can feel forgotten. This program reminds them they’re not.”
And while the impact on students like Lonntez, Cliff, and Marcus is clear, Carl also points to the structure and support we provide for mentors. “The training, the session briefs, the staff support, it all helps you be prepared. You’re never doing this alone.”
So, what’s next? Carl and his students will continue together into our 11th grade program next year, building on what they’ve started. More growth, more goals, more success.
“It’s not always easy,” Carl admitted. “Balancing work, family, and mentoring takes serious time management. But it’s worth every second. These guys, my guys, they matter. And this program gives us the space to help them see that.”
Career Mentors are volunteers from the Metro Detroit business community who help high school students figure out what they’ll do after high school and learn important life and job skills. They attend one-hour sessions with students at their school and coach them through our structured and fun curriculum. Learn more and apply to be a Career Mentor!