PRESS RELEASE DETAIL
For release: IMMEDIATELY
Release Date: 01/10/2017
Mayor Broome proclaims January as National Mentoring Month
Office of Mayor-President
City Of Baton Rouge/Parish of East Baton Rouge
SHARON WESTON BROOME
Mayor-President
Jan 10, 2017
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT:
Erin Porche’, Youth Project Manager, (225) 389-4222
Dr. Tamiara Wade, Asst. Chief Administrative Officer: (225) 389-3100
Michelle McCalope, Communications Office: (225) 389-7957
BATON ROUGE, La. – Mayor-President Sharon Weston Broome has issued a proclamation declaring January as National Mentoring Month in the City of Baton Rouge and Parish of East Baton Rouge.
“National Mentoring Month is a perfect time to highlight the quality mentoring programs in our city that connects thousands of youth to mentors,” said Mayor Broome. “These mentors provide invaluable guidance and support to help prepare our youth to become productive citizens of our community.”
The Mayor’s Office My Brother’s Keeper – Baton Rouge (MBK-BR) Initiative is celebrating 15 years of supporting and promoting mentoring opportunities in the Baton Rouge area. In celebration of National Mentoring Month, MBK-BR is encouraging residents to become active mentors and support the various events that are being sponsored throughout the month.
These events include:
– January 12, 2017: “I Am a Mentor Day,” a day for volunteer Mentors to celebrate their role and reflect on the ways mentees have enhanced their world and share their stories about being a Mentor on social media using #MentorIRL and #MBKBR.
– January 16, 2017: Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service, a day to share in the inspirational words of MLK, Jr. and elevate the spirit of service through volunteerism.
– January 17, 2017: International Mentoring Day, a day of international conversations on social media where photos, video and messages to share powerful mentoring stories.
– January 19, 2017: “Thank Your Mentor Day,” a day for all who have real life mentoring experiences to thank those who helped them on their path to adulthood and beyond. We encourage anyone who has had a Mentor to say thank you by sending a note, a card or sharing a story on social media using #MentorIRL #MBKBR.
– January 26, 2017: Big Buddy Program presents the Mentoring in Real Life Awards Ceremony. They are honoring selected groups and organizations who have exhibited mentoring in a way that has impacted our community.
Research has shown that when matched through quality mentoring programs, mentors can play a powerful role in providing young people with the tools to make responsible decisions, stay focused and engaged in schools, and reduce or avoid risky behavior like skipping school, drug use and other negative activities.
In a recent national report called The Mentoring Effect, young people who were at-risk for not completing high school but who had a mentor were 55 percent more likely to be enrolled in college than those who did not have a mentor.
They were also:
• 81 more likely to report participating regularly in sports or extracurricular activities
• 78 more likely to volunteer regularly in their communities
• More than twice as likely to say they held a leadership position in a club or sports team
That same report showed that one in three youth will reach age 19 without a mentor.
National Mentoring Month is also being celebrated in cities across the country. Click here to view the proclamation.
About MBK-BR
My Brother’s Keeper-Baton Rouge Extended Learning Opportunities through Mentorship initiative focuses on integrating mentoring into local initiatives aimed at reducing poverty, drug abuse and violence and promoting healthy decision making. For more information about MBK-BR or to learn how you can become a mentor, go to www.brgov.com/mbkbr or call Erin Porche’ at (225) 389-4222.
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More information can be found on our website.