Tagged: mentoring

 January is Mentoring month in Michigan.   

A special event today at the state capitol honored more than 200 organizations that connect young people with adults willing to mentor them in a variety of fields. 

Lt. Governor Brian Calley spoke during ceremonies in the capitol rotunda about how all people need mentors to guide them.    

“At every important step I ever took," says Calley, "there was always somebody there who took a personal interest in my own success.”  

Calley says mentors can be anyone from parents to co-workers.

Plenty of kids in Michigan need an adult mentor.  That’s according to Paula Kaiser VanDam, executive director of the Michigan Community Service Commission.

“This year the network of mentoring organizations that we work with are serving about 24,000 children. What we know is that there are thousands more kids that want a mentor that currently do not have one.”

Kaiser VanDam says the time commitment is one hour per week. Mentors are expected to spend time with their young person and listen to them.