[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 122 (Friday, October 1, 2004)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1776]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




          MONTGOMERY COUNTY, MARYLAND TASK FORCE ON MENTORING

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. ALBERT RUSSELL WYNN

                              of maryland

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, September 30, 2004

  Mr. WYNN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate and to express my 
appreciation to the Montgomery County, Maryland Task Force on Mentoring 
for the great work they are doing in helping to guide county children 
and youth to live useful and productive lives. The Task Force on 
Mentoring, TFM, works 365 days a year to bring mentoring services to 
all who ask and need such help. The services of the TFM are available 
to all county residents regardless of age, gender, race, color, 
religion or cultural background.
  The TFM also provides technical services to organizations, 
communities, and institutions that request assistance in designing, 
developing and implementing mentor programs. It hosts a major annual 
breakfast focusing on key issues involving mentoring. This year, on 
October 7, 2004, at the Rockville campus of Johns Hopkins University, 
the TFM is sponsoring its 13th annual breakfast highlighting the crisis 
of anti-social gangs in Montgomery County, and the attempt by some of 
these gangs to recruit children and youth into their organizations.
  The TFM is a community-based umbrella organization aimed at 
convincing troubled children and youth that they can make plans for a 
good life with the help of a caring, well trained, dedicated volunteer 
mentor.
  The TFM is the only organization of its kind in the county. It offers 
assistance, mentor training, volunteer mentor recruitment, 
organizational and technical support free of charge to more than 60 
mentor programs. It helps to implement mentor programs in any public 
school in Montgomery County that requests such help.
  The TFM recently entered into a collaboration and agreement with the 
Alliance of Concerned Men of the District of Columbia to begin a mentor 
program for youthful offenders at the Clarksburg youth facility in 
Clarksburg, Maryland. The first meeting with the youthful offenders at 
the Clarksburg facility took place September 10, 2004. Additionally, 
the TFM is working with Montgomery County Councilman Phil Andrews and 
the Montgomery County Juvenile Court system to explore the 
establishment of a mentor program for children and youth in the 
correctional facility.
  The TFM has been repeatedly recognized and commended as a valuable 
resource and asset to the children, young adults, and the communities 
within Montgomery County, Maryland. Every year the TFM helps a 
significant number of children and youth turn their lives around and 
become positive, active, and socially contributing residents.
  Mr. Speaker, please join me in congratulating the Montgomery County, 
Maryland Task Force on Mentoring for their commitment to improving the 
lives of all people in the County, and especially the lives of young 
people.

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