January is National Mentoring Month, but local mentors celebrate all year long.
East Tennessee State University’s Even It Up mentoring program targets students in 4th through 8th grades at North Side Elementary School and Indian Trail Middle School who are at risk for becoming school dropouts.
Community volunteers have lunch with an assigned child for one hour each week during the school year. By providing a constructive role model, supporting education, and offering friendship and advice, mentors have the opportunity to help direct the course of a child’s life in a positive direction.
Through this affirming contact with an adult, studies show at-risk youths are less likely to become involved in substance abuse or to skip school, but instead are more apt to achieve better grades, pursue education past the high school level, and improve relationships with their parents.
Giving a helping hand to these young people does not require special training.
Volunteers are asked to encourage academic achievement and school attendance, help explore career possibilities, and offer friendship.
ETSU’s Center for Community Outreach oversees Even It Up, with funding from the U.S. Department of Education.
For further information, or to volunteer, contact Patricia Turner, the program director, at 423-232-5536 or turnerp@etsu.edu, or contact Kristi Lilly, mentoring coordinator, at 423-202-0955 or lillyk@etsu.edu.

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