Recognizing National Mentoring Month

RECOGNIZING NATIONAL MENTORING MONTH

* Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Madam Speaker, as we celebrate February as National Mentoring Month, I am reminded of the words of Martin Luther King, Jr.: ``Occasionally in life there are those moments of unutterable fulfillment which cannot be completely explained by those symbols called words. Their meanings can only be articulated by the inaudible language of the heart.'

* Mentoring is one of those moments in life that cannot be truly appreciated with words. It is a valuable activity that gives all involved a sense of happiness and connection that material things cannot. By reaching into the hearts of children, mentoring opens young people's eyes to a brighter future, and every young person deserves that opportunity.

* A mentor, of course, is often an adult who, along with parents, gains a sense of fulfillment when making a positive difference in the quality of life for that young person. The average mentor spends about 8 to 10 hours a month with his or her mentee on activities such as reading a good book aloud, visiting museums, or going to the playground.

* I am proud of the many mentoring programs that are already in place in the Chicagoland area, such as Mercy Home's Friends First Program and Sinai Mentoring Program, which links Mount Sinai Hospital professionals with youth from North and South Lawndale High Schools.

* I also want to commend the Chicago Public School system and the Board of Education for the development of a program called Cradle to the Classroom. This program involves mentors who work individually with young parents and students who are pregnant and who have children. These youth, with the help of a mentor, finish their high school education and graduate.

* When a young person is matched with a caring, responsible individual, this relationship often makes for a counsel, friendship, and constructive example. For too long we have focused on providing remedies to problems that only address negative behavior, rather than looking at ways to promote the positive and healthy development of our young people. National Mentoring Month focuses on what children need in order to grow into healthy, safe, and well-educated adults.

* In Chicago and across the country, it is clear that the mentoring framework is in place. Now we just need more people to volunteer their time to help change the life of a child. Research shows that young people who are mentored have a stronger attachment to school, higher graduation rates, and decreased involvement with drugs, gangs, and violence.

* Mentoring is a strong investment in our children and in the future of our country. Therefore, Madam Speaker, I am indeed pleased to join with my colleagues in celebrating the essential role that mentoring plays in the lives of our young people during this National Mentoring Month.

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