Title
To recognize the importance of mentoring and to celebrate January as National Mentoring Month.
Body
WHEREAS, relationships with caring mentors offer youth valuable support to guide them toward making positive and healthy life choices; and
WHEREAS, the mentoring programs that schools and youth organizations offer are effective at increasing student attendance and academic performance; and
WHEREAS, mentored youth are less likely to skip school, start using drugs and alcohol, or engage in violence- and are more likely to attend college; and
WHEREAS, these young people exhibit improved self-esteem, have better relationships with family members and peers, and feel a greater connectedness to their community and schools; and
WHEREAS, partnerships between businesses, schools, and other youth service organizations and mentoring programs are an effective way for businesses to support youth within their communities; and
WHEREAS, collaborative mentoring programs with the endorsement of their communities are able to serve more youth; and
WHEREAS, in the last year The Mentoring Center of Central Ohio has trained more than 1,680 mentors, and mentees in person, and more than 500 online as well as provide enrichment activities for myriad youth in our communities; and
WHEREAS, the Mentoring Center of Central Ohio along with other public and private organizations are committed to increase the number of quality mentoring matches; and
WHEREAS, January has been designated as National Mentoring Month, a time dedicated to focusing national attention on the need for mentors to ensure brighter futures for young people, now therefore
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS:
That this Council does hereby recognize and celebrate January as National Mentoring Month in the City of Columbus.