Celebrating Mentors in January

by Mitch Coopes, Government Relations Senior Specialist, Goodwill Industries International 

January is National Mentoring Month, a time to celebrate the contributions that mentors and mentoring programs have made to our lives and communities. Goodwill has a long history of fostering relationships through mentoring, particularly those that promote positive outcomes for youth. Goodwill youth mentoring programs connect adult mentors with young people, including those impacted by the justice system or facing other barriers to opportunity, through engagements that emphasize positive development and career awareness activities that help youth gain confidence, avoid risky behavior, stay on track to complete secondary school, and successfully transition to postsecondary education and training.

In recognition of National Mentoring Month 2022, President Biden remarked on his Administration’s efforts to expand youth mentoring programs that equip youth with the skills they need to be successful in the workforce. “As we continue to build back from the pandemic, my Administration is making unprecedented investments to set the next generation up for success,” said Biden. “Earlier this year, the Department of Labor awarded $89 million through its YouthBuild program and over $20 million through its Workforce Pathways for Youth programs to dedicated mentors who share their wisdom and experience and provide employment and counseling services to young people.”

Local Goodwill organizations also utilize federal resources provided through Youth Mentoring Program grants. These funds support prevention and intervention-based mentoring activities that help reduce youth absenteeism and interactions with the justice system, while promoting academic and career achievement.

Goodwill believes that strong public and private investments in youth-serving programs, particularly those that encourage positive development through mentoring relationships, will empower young people to overcome their barriers to opportunity so they can grow into the leaders of tomorrow. Take a moment this month to recognize mentors in your life and consider becoming an advocate for mentoring programs in your community.