Girls Inc. of Lynn Joined Organizations Across the Country to Celebrate National Mentoring Month
January welcomed a brand new year as well as National Mentoring Month. Girls Inc. of Lynn joined in the annual campaign aimed at expanding quality mentoring opportunities to connect more of our community’s young people with caring adults through mentoring.
One of the core components of the work we do at Girls Inc. of Lynn is providing girls with long-term mentoring relationships. Mentors help girls push past gender stereotypes, strengthen their confidence, and brighten their outlook on the future. Quality mentoring relationships have powerful positive effects on young people in their personal, academic, and professional lives.
Girls Inc. of Lynn joined Mass Mentoring Partnership and the AmeriCorps Ambassadors of Mentoring for the 13th annual Youth Mentoring Day at the State House. The girls enjoyed a unique opportunity to convene legislators, youth-serving programs, and young people at the State House to celebrate and highlight the importance of mentoring relationships. The girls meet with their legislators to share their stories, educate them about the benefits of mentoring and thank them for their support.
This year’s theme explored the many ways that youth-adult relationships are changing individuals, organizations and even communities. The girls heard from other young people, adults and public officials about the tremendous impact that mentoring relationships are having every day in communities across Massachusetts.
A Mentor Appreciation Brunch was enjoyed by middle school girls enrolled in our Bold Futures group mentoring program which served as an opportunity for the girls to tell their mentors what they appreciate about them. Each girl read a brief statement of appreciation about her mentor and presented her with a small thank you gift. On the same day as the brunch the high school girls attended the Women’s March in Boston. The girls also participated in the #GirlsToo: Respects Starts Young campaign.
The senior girls in our College Mentoring program presented their mentors with cards filled with heartfelt words of appreciation that they read out loud. The mentors also received a Girls Inc. water bottle and everyone celebrated with cake afterward.
“We are grateful for the dedicated volunteers who mentor our middle and high school girls. It is wonderful to kick off the year celebrating mentors as their contribution is powerful and transformative to the girls,” says Deb Ansourlian, Executive Director.