At Allies, we often say, “Trauma that is caused through relationships must be healed through relationships.” This month, we had the privilege of watching those words come to life.

A few months ago, during a LinkUP! event, a mentee we’ll call E attempted to run away. Thanks to the quick thinking of two other mentees, R, and a friend, E was safely stopped before getting very far. While everyone was grateful for her safety, the experience left E struggling with hurt feelings toward R. For weeks, she wanted nothing to do with her.

At our recent Resource Fair, something beautiful happened. R and E took time to sit down together, talk through what had happened, and truly listen to one another. By the end of the day, they were laughing together, spending time side by side, and building a friendship that once seemed impossible. Since then, R has been added to E’s approved call list at her residential facility, and the two are already planning an outing together with their mentors.

For many of the young women we serve, healthy conflict resolution, forgiveness, and reconciliation are unfamiliar experiences. Through the consistent example of caring mentors and a supportive community, they are discovering that relationships don’t have to end when conflict arises. Instead, they can become places where healing begins. This is the lasting impact of mentorship… one healthy relationship at a time.