MEMPHIS, Tenn. — In Memphis, it’s been said the problem of at-risk youth isn’t just one affecting the individual child, but also the entire community when problems such as truancy, crime, and violence arise.
Jaques Hamilton is a mentoring specialist for Shelby County Schools.
“You have a lot of drug and gang violence going on and high drop out rate and we are trying to combat these issues with mentoring,” Hamilton said.
Inside the Teaching and Learning Academy on Union Avenue, these volunteers are trying to do something about problems such as gang violence and high student dropout rates.
They’re learning to be mentors in this pre-service training workshop that’s part of Shelby County Schools Mentoring Coalition and its Connect Mentoring program.
“We know that mentoring is key. It helps in the family setting, as well as the community, as well as the school district and it’s a great tool to position them in post secondary education,” Hamilton said.
It’s a partnership between SCS and community organizations where mentors will go into schools and communities to work with at-risk youth and to help teens get ready for college.
Rebecca Mann is a mentoring specialist for Shelby County Schools.
“We focus on various values we think are important for our children to learn from developmental aspects to the youth we serve,” Mann said.
Volunteers are learning to be mentors to possibly have a positive and life long impact on young people needing to be inspired.
“Mentoring is important, mentoring is needed. It’s a lifelong commitment we hope that all our mentors will want to endure whether with Shelby County School students or students or children in their local communities,” Mann said.
Anyone interested in Shelby County School’s Connect Mentoring can attend the upcoming pre-service training workshop, which will take place Wednesday at 5:30 p.m. at the Teaching and Learning Academy at 2485 Union Avenue.
Advance registration is required for training. Anyone interested should call 901-416-6894 to register by phone.