[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 34 (Wednesday, February 28, 2007)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E419]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  RECOGNIZING NATIONAL MENTORING MONTH

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                          HON. DANNY K. DAVIS

                              of illinois

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, February 28, 2007

  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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