mentoring IN the middle
what
3-year
grant opportunity from the Safe and Drug-Free Schools program of the
Department of Education...to
recruit, train, and
connect mentors with "at-risk" (truant, delinquent,
academic, substance abuse, criminal, family, immediate crisis) 6th-8th
grade students in the Lincoln, IL
community (potentially expanding to
greater Logan County).
who
An extensive collaboration
of youth service professionals/organizations currently serving Lincoln,
IL students and families.
when
Grant deadline = May 23,
2007
Awarded Programs Start Date = October 1, 2007
Awarded Programs Start Date = October 1, 2007
why
"As
young people gain an understanding of who they have been uniquely
created to be, they discover a sense of calling for their
lives...without a sense of purpose, the lives of these young people are
mostly about deviance control...We need to help kids think
realistically, yet boldly, about who and what they could become.
And then we walk with them one step at a time to get there."
[The Resilience Code: Finding Greatness in Youth / Larry Brendtro and Dr. Scott J. Larson]
17.6 million = young Americans that need/want mentoring
3 million = young Americans in formal, high-quality mentoring relationships
14.6 million = "the mentoring gap"
[MENTOR, National Mentoring Partnership research]
12 million = 6th, 7th, and 8th grade students enrolled in U.S. public schools
40% are "losing hope" and "do not believe they will be able to achieve their goals"
["Every Child, Every Promise: Key Findings" / America's Promise]
He told another story. "...like a farmer who planted good seed in his field. That night, while his hired men were asleep, his enemy sowed thistles all through the wheat and slipped away before dawn. When the first green shoots appeared and the grain began to form, the thistles showed up, too.
"No longer should we expect children to navigate without a map, steer without a rudder, or seek without a friend."
["In Whose Best Interest?" / John Seita / Continental Press]
[The Resilience Code: Finding Greatness in Youth / Larry Brendtro and Dr. Scott J. Larson]
17.6 million = young Americans that need/want mentoring
3 million = young Americans in formal, high-quality mentoring relationships
14.6 million = "the mentoring gap"
[MENTOR, National Mentoring Partnership research]
12 million = 6th, 7th, and 8th grade students enrolled in U.S. public schools
40% are "losing hope" and "do not believe they will be able to achieve their goals"
["Every Child, Every Promise: Key Findings" / America's Promise]
He told another story. "...like a farmer who planted good seed in his field. That night, while his hired men were asleep, his enemy sowed thistles all through the wheat and slipped away before dawn. When the first green shoots appeared and the grain began to form, the thistles showed up, too.
The farmhands came to the farmer and said, 'Master, that was clean seed you planted, wasn't it? Where did these thistles come from?'
He answered, 'Some enemy did this.'
The farmhands asked, 'Should we weed out the thistles?'
He said, 'No, if you weed the thistles, you'll pull up the wheat, too. Let them grow together until harvest time. Then I'll instruct the harvesters to pull up the thistles and tie them in bundles for the fire, then gather the wheat and put it in the barn.'"
"No longer should we expect children to navigate without a map, steer without a rudder, or seek without a friend."
["In Whose Best Interest?" / John Seita / Continental Press]