July Is National Mentoring Month
From the First Lady’s Desk
A Monthly Message by First Lady Gayle C. Manchin
July began in a most somber mood with the passing of our great, and longest serving senator in the US Senate, Robert C. Byrd. His memorial procession and service here in Charleston not only symbolized West Virginians’ great love for this man, but also their great respect for his service and his stature. There were many accolades expressed during the services; however, the one thing that kept being repeated was that he was a MENTOR to many.
It seems most appropriate that July in known as National Mentoring Month for its ninth year in 2010. By focusing national attention on the need for mentors, as well as how each of us-individuals, businesses, government agencies, schools, faith communities and nonprofits-can work together to increase the number of mentors, we assure in this arena brighter futures for our young people. As in years past, state and national media work to heighten awareness of mentoring and prompt individuals to volunteer to mentor. Volunteer WV promotes the month to its vast network of Senior Corps, AmeriCorps and Learn and Serve America grantees and highlights mentoring during its annual Martin Luther King Day of Service event. Outstanding programs like Big Brother, Big Sisters help children realize their potential and build their futures; they nurture children and strengthen communities.
However, interestingly, there is a great diversity of mentoring programs across our great state. The West Virginia Center for Professional Development is one of only eight states that supports a new teacher mentoring program, which provides teachers new to the profession or new to the state with workshops and training needed to ensure a smooth transition into the world of teaching.
In fact, through the education system of West Virginia there are a variety of programs addressing the use of mentoring. The West Virginia National Guard Youth ChalleNGe Academy in beautiful Preston County is one of the largest and best in the country. The mission of the Program is to intervene in, reclaim and mentor the lives of 16-18 year old high school dropouts, producing program graduates with values, life skills, education, and good citizenship.
Our Department of Health and Human Services provides endless opportunities for mentors for new parents, prenatal classes, child abuse prevention programs-all with the primary purpose of providing mentors for individuals to help them become the kind of parents they want and need to be to provide a healthy, happy home environment.
West Virginia’s Promise, and Communities in Schools work across the state to recruit mentors to provide the five promises or resources that every child needs to succeed in school and life. Everyone benefits from all of these programs-both the mentees and the mentors.
Mentoring is but one way that we continue to honor Senator Byrd-by continuing to be good citizens who believe in public service, in helping one another, and together building a stronger West Virginia and ultimately a stronger nation.