Each year the city celebrates National Mentoring Month by honoring the heroes in our community who take a role in the lives of our youth, and recognizing the mentees who are eager to learn and make a positive impact on Charlotte’s future.
The impact mentors have in our community is undeniable.
According to the Mentoring Effect, mentors helped young people at risk for dropping out of school, gain the tools and guidance to avoid pitfalls like skipping class, underage drinking and illegal drugs. These same youth were 55 percent more likely to be enroll in college, more than twice as likely to hold a leadership position in a club or sports team and 78 percent more likely to volunteer regularly in their communities than those without mentors.
On Jan. 29, the city partnered with United Way of Central Carolinas to recognize the work of mentors and mentees at the annual Mayor’s Mentoring Alliance Awards.
Held at ImaginOn, this event honored Charlotte notables with critical roles in the lives of local youth and recognized the emerging leaders who will impact our future.
Marquise Gaddy shares the story of how he overcame a severe spinal cord injury suffered playing college football.
Former Teachor of the Year James E. Ford addresses the crowd about the importatnce of mentoring our youth.
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Charlotte received the Large Best Practices Agency for partnering with various community organizations and programs.
Woodstone Apartments received the Business Partner of the Year award for partnering with local nonprofits and organizations to provide mentoring, tutoring and summer reading programs for local youth.
Urban Eagles Soccer Club received the Group Mentor of the Year award for their work with young athletes in the Grier Heights community.
Shawndell Planter received the Mentee of the Year award for continuing to work on self-improvement and continuing his mentoring sessions.
Police Activities League received the Small Best Practices Agency award for partnering with businesses to recruit mentors as well as working with social workers and school administrators to recruit mentees.
Kelly Young (right) won the the Mentoring Alliance Awards’ Mentor of the Year! In addition to helping her mentee learn another language, Kelly also provided support when her mentee’s mother was diagnosed with cancer.
Mayor Jennifer Roberts (middle) stands with Mayor’s Mentoring Alliance board members, city staff and guest speakers at the 2016 Mentoring Alliance Awards.
