National Mentoring Month: Passing It On
By: Source: AARP.org Date Posted: 2003-07-31 17:38:00-04:00
During National Mentoring Month, take a moment to remember those who have mentored you. Is it time for you to take on this role, and mentor a child this year?
January is National Mentoring Month. During this time, AARP commends everyone who has mentored or currently mentors a youth, and thanks them for their time and commitment to such a worthy cause. We recognize the hard work and dedication our members have given throughout their lives, and the lasting impact they have had in the life of a child.
Mentors are committed to providing guidance and support to youth. They serve as role models, teachers, and friends who provide counsel and positive examples. Mentors help develop the character and capabilities of young people.
National Mentoring Month (NMM), spearheaded by the Harvard School of Public Health and MENTOR/National Mentoring Partnership, is focused on increasing the number of one-on-one relationships between youth and adults. Each year, NMM encourages state and local organizations to host activities in celebration of this month. The annual campaign aims to heighten awareness of mentoring, prompt individuals to become mentors, and to commend those who currently mentor.
On January 15, Thank Your Mentor Day encourages millions of Americans to reach out - call, email, or send a letter of appreciation - to thank those individuals who guided them and who had a lasting impact on their lives.
Mentoring benefits the community, the child, and the adult. Research has shown that supportive relationships with non-parent adults can positively impact the life of a child. It has been proven to reduce incidents of arrest, and improve their grades, behavior, and self-esteem. For those who mentor, the experience enriches their lives. They have an opportunity to contribute to society by nurturing a child and they feel wanted and needed.
Recognizing the crucial contribution to our communities created by mentoring across generations, AARP promotes mentoring through several local projects spearheaded at the state level and through the work of NRTA, our community of retired and working educators.
Nationally, NRTA: AARP's Educator Community has reached more than 1.5 million youth in more than 2,000 communities through its With Our Youth! Program.
Because we recognize how a supportive relationship can powerfully influence the course and quality of adolescents' lives, we encourage you to sign up to be a mentor. Contact one of the national organizations below and ask how you can get involved.
If you are interested in serving as a mentor, visit AARP's online volunteer recruitment tool, or contact NRTA's With Our Youth! Program (see below for links). You can also contact one of the outstanding national organizations listed below.
AARP Volunteering
NRTA: AARP's Educator Community
With Our Youth!
AARP's Online Volunteer Recruitment Tool
Powered by VolunteerMatch
Mentoring Resources
MENTOR National Mentoring Partnership
Big Brothers Big Sisters of America
America's Promise - The Alliance for Youth
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