The Hechinger Report – David Shapiro
“Since evidence emerged in the mid-1990s of the significant positive impacts that professionally supported volunteer mentors can have on young people, the field has grown. With limited funding and largely grassroots efforts, the strategy reaches an estimated 4.5 million young people who have mentors through structured programs run by nonprofits, schools and community centers. Many more young people, like Barahona, benefit from informal mentoring relationships with friends, neighbors, faith leaders, teachers, coaches, social workers and others. With a mentor, young people are more likely to stay in school, hold leadership positions, volunteer regularly, go to college and become mentors themselves.” (more)