January is National Mentoring Month (NMM)

Created by the Harvard School of Public Health and MENTOR, National Mentoring Month (NMM) is marking its ninth year in 2010. By focusing national attention on the need for mentors, as well as how each of us—individuals, businesses, government agencies, schools, faith communities and nonprofits—can work together to increase the number of mentors, we assure brighter futures for our young people.

As in years past, the Harvard School of Public Health is working with the national media to heighten awareness of mentoring and prompt individuals to volunteer to mentor. At the same time, MENTOR is working with the NMM campaign’s local partners who are organizing special NMM events in their communities with their local media. These events help interested adults learn how to turn their concern for young people into direct action by becoming mentors. The Corporation for National and Community Service, a NMM partner since 2006, promotes the month to its vast network of Senior Corps, AmeriCorps and Learn and Serve America grantees and highlights mentoring during its annual Martin Luther King Day of Service event.

NMM celebrates mentoring and the positive effect it can have on young lives. Its goals are to:

• Raise awareness of mentoring in its various forms.
  
• Recruit individuals to mentor, especially in programs that have waiting lists of young people.
  
• Promote the rapid growth of mentoring by recruiting organizations to engage their constituents in mentoring.
  

Each year since its launch in 2002, NMM has enjoyed the strong support of the U.S. President and Congress. Additional prominent individuals who have participated in the campaign include: Maya Angelou, former President Bill Clinton, Clint Eastwood, Senator John McCain, Quincy Jones, General Colin L. Powell, Cal Ripken, Jr., Bill Russell and Usher.