Each January, National Mentoring Month is observed to highlight the important role mentors play in the lives of young people. The initiative aims to raise awareness about mentoring and encourage more individuals to become involved in supporting youth development.
Mentors can come from various backgrounds, including supervisors, peers, neighbors, friends, professors, or teachers. Their key contribution lies in sharing experience and knowledge while helping others grow and succeed. Effective mentors provide honest feedback and guidance as individuals navigate challenges.
National Mentoring Month began with the Harvard Mentoring Project in 1997 and was officially launched in January 2002 by former President George W. Bush. The program was created to address the need for mentoring across different financial and educational backgrounds.
Assemblyman Karl Brabenec expressed his commitment to supporting youth: “As a father of two children, ensuring my son and daughter and others throughout our state are given the best chance to succeed in whatever field they choose to pursue is a passion of mine. As your assemblyman, I have always been dedicated to providing parents and school districts with the necessary resources and tools needed for their students to receive the best educational opportunities possible. Whether a student is interested in a skilled trade or a profession, every student should have access to a mentor to help guide them through life.”
He encouraged families to explore local mentoring options: “This month, I encourage every parent and/or guardian of a young individual to look into local mentoring programs and opportunities. The Web site has a wide range of resources and information for those in need of mentoring or prospective mentors who wish to share their knowledge.”
The New York State Mentoring Program offers one-to-one school-based mentoring statewide by recruiting volunteers who are matched with children and teens within their communities. More information on this program can be found at https://ccf.ny.gov/nys-mentoring-program/.
Youth living in the 98th Assembly District also have access to local mentoring programs.
