January is National Mentoring Month. CU One to One Mentoring and Urbana School District #116 are celebrating the annual campaign aimed at expanding quality mentoring opportunities to connect more of the nation’s young people with caring adults. The following events celebrate and thank over 500 current CU community-based mentors and offer recruitment opportunities for prospective mentors.
January 15: City of Urbana Mentor Recruitment Open House – in Council Chambers from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Our primary goal is to recruit Urbana City Workers to become CU One to One Mentors in Urbana Schools. However, anyone is welcome to stop by and learn more about the program.
January 21: Thank Your Mentor Day – Mentor Benefit Cards are good all day at participating businesses.
January 23: Mentor Luncheon 11:45 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Stone Creek Church in Urbana. Current and prospective mentors are invited to a light lunch and presentation from Karen Crawford Simms. Simms is a nationally recognized speaker and the founding director of the Champaign Trauma and Resilience Initiative. She will speak about Navigating Crisis and Building Resilience in a Mentoring Relationship.
New Mentor Recruitment – to sign up for New Mentor training, contact Angie Armstrong: aarmstrong@usd116.org
- Tuesday, January 28 from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at Urbana Middle School
- Wednesday, February 4 from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at the Mellon Building in Champaign (703 S. New St.)
- Thursday, February 12 from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at the Mellon Building in Champaign (703 S. New St.)
Mentoring has tangible effects. Of the young adults who had a meaningful mentor:
- 74% say that person contributed significantly to their success later in life.
- 69% say that their mentoring relationship has helped them with issues related to their education.
- 58% say that their mentor has supported their mental health.
(Stats from the National Mentor Organization)
Today’s 18-21-year-olds express unmet mentoring needs around depression, anxiety, and suicide at 4 times the rate of Baby Boomers and more than double the rates for Millennials. They are even 47 percent more likely than their slightly older peers to cite mental health challenges.
511 public school students in Champaign-Urbana currently have mentors, but there are more who would like one. Mentoring relationships are powerful tools for connection and are critical to our country’s future. Go beyond digital connection and become a mentor in real life.