ABSTRACT
The proposed book chapter will focus on the role of mentors in young people's critical consciousness (CC). CC is a process in which individuals critically analyse their social conditions and act to change these conditions (Freire, 1973; Watts, Diemer, & Voight, 2011). With its roots in Brazil, CC has been applied to more diverse groups in North America and is considered a key component of youth civic engagement (Watts et al., 2011). For young people, having supportive individuals to help reflect on their social conditions facilitates CC (Diemer & Li, 2011). Mentors may be well poised to guide and support youth in efforts to create social change. However, there is limited research on the role of mentors in the development of CC, and there are mixed findings regarding the role of other adults (e.g. teachers, parents) in adolescents' CC. This book chapter will provide a literature review of the role of mentors and other adult figures in adolescents' CC and will also draw on the authors' findings from a mixed-methods study on how mentors support college students' critical reflection, critical action, and sociopolitical efficacy. Recommendations for future research and practice in mentoring will be provided.
