Did you know??

Mentored students are 52% less likely to skip school.

Mentored students are 46% less likely to use illegal drugs or abuse alcohol.

January is National Mentoring Month and  Mayor Alvin Brown is encouraging Jacksonville to give back to our community this year by donating time to help a young person reach his or her full potential. The Mayor’s Mentors program is a partnership among City Hall and nonprofit agencies that specializes in pairing new, highly qualified mentors with students in Duval County Public Schools. The plan grows from the mayor’s vision to enhance the quality of public education for the good of students as well as workforce development and employer recruitment in Jacksonville. Through the program, the mayor will be deploying dedicated volunteers – including retired school teachers – into mentorship programs with proven performance metrics to ensure the best quality for Jacksonville’s youths.

By giving just one hour each week after a short training period, you will be developing a meaningful relationship that will inspire a young person to work his or her hardest in academics and in life. Your choice to become a mentor could be the difference between a young person becoming a dropout or a graduate.

The Mayor’s Mentors program is off to a great start with 322 mentors currently, but there are thousands of Jacksonville students who could still benefit from mentoring.  Please consider becoming a Mayor’s Mentor today. For more information on becoming a Mayor’s Mentor, please call United Way’s 2-1-1 or visit www.nefl211.org.