by Karen McCarver Carlos bounded out of the classroom, a huge smile on his face to meet his new mentor, Jon Norman. The year was 2007, and Carlos was an outgoing fourth grade student at Briarmeadow who had been referred by his teacher to KIDS HOPE. Jon’s challenge was to help this child focus, improve in reading and math, and more than anything to build a trusting, nurturing relationship with Carlos. Over the next two years a deep bond developed as they studied, played games, shot hoops together and talked about their lives. Jon recalls Carlos’ fifth grade [...]