National Mentoring Month highlights efforts to support youth

SALISBURY, Md.- “If you can’t see where you’re going, asking someone who’s been there before.”- J Loren Norris.

January marks National Mentoring Month, honoring the efforts of organizations making a difference in the lives of young people. “To advance the mentoring field of legislative priorities, drive meaningful change for our young people, and get the voice heard of the young people that we’re serving and waiting to serve,” Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Eastern Shore’s Program Lead Danielle Black said.

I’m told at risk youth are the biggest target for mentorship and the pandemic exposed the need for more resources.  “To look for more tools to provide our agency and other agencies with trainings for staff, volunteers, and tools for parents and children. Its to help prepare them for the changing climate not only with health but the social climate changes,” Black said.

Shore United of Salisbury started with a focus on nurturing kids from the outside through sports like football, but now offers tutoring and other activities focused on building the child from within. “Always positive thoughts. We don’t let allow the kids to talk down to each other or discourage each other, only encourage. We feel like that helps with their mental health,” ShoreUnited Founder TJ Bryant said.

Those connections are what organizations say change the lives of the mentee and mentor, as each situation is truly unique. “The child could have a learning disability, a physical disability, or just low confidence. We really gear their mentor match needs and goals towards that individual child,” Black said.  “Just love and compassion and wanting to be in a better community and better area. Just that want to. With that want to, love, and compassion anyone can be a mentor,” Bryant said.

“And all the while, this volunteer is getting invested in this child more and more as that just naturally comes when you’re spending quality time with somebody,” Black said.

Statistics also show that mentored youth have better school attendance and are more likely to purse a higher education.  Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Eastern Shore says that the volunteer process is extensive and includes a background check and child safety training.

To find out more or if you’d like to become a volunteer, click here 

To find out more about the activities ShoreUnited offers, click here