When people receive awards, they really work hard and deserve the award. The Newark Mentoring Coalition consists of more than 40 service organizations throughout Newark and Northern New Jersey that provide a variety of mentoring services to over 3,000 young people. The Coalition works with a variety of organizations to improve the quality of programs and increase the number of mentors throughout the City.
Mayor Cory A. Booker, U.S. Representative Donald Payne, Newark Municipal Council Members, Newark Mentoring Coalition Representatives, and other dignitaries joined with Newark employers, non-profits, and students to celebrate National Mentoring Month at a Municipal Council Chamber ceremony, which honored 10 Newark organizations and individuals who have contributed to mentoring youth, by presenting them with Mentoring Champion Awards.
"Mentoring can change lives," said Mayor Booker. "This exciting and critical recognition of the need for mentors for the young people of Newark is a call to action that can be heard across our City. By giving their time, commitment, and guidance, mentors are helping to build a stronger, safer, prouder City."
"Several weeks ago, President and Mrs. Obama held a mentoring program at the White House, emphasizing the importance that more people get involved. We know that mentoring really works and everyone can do something. It doesn't take a lot of time, just as much as you can give. If we're going to stop the killings and violence, we have to start by mentoring our children," said Congressman Payne, recalling mentoring programs he worked with as a South Side High School teacher in the 1950s, and their success.
Felix Rouse, Chairman of the Newark Mentoring Coalition and Chief Executive Officer of the Boys and Girls Clubs of Newark said, "It has been repeatedly demonstrated both statistically and anecdotally that mentoring leads to beneficial results for both the individuals involved and the community as a whole. Mentoring is a proven method of helping guide young people onto the path towards a successful life."
At the event, the Newark Mentoring Coalition recognized 10 individuals and organizations that had demonstrated excellence with their mentoring programs, by presenting them with the Mentoring Champions Award. A list of winners is attached.
"The Mentoring Champion Award is given to individuals who champion the ideals promoted during National Mentoring Month by promoting young people's success in life through educational achievement, health and safety, and social and emotional development," said Rouse.
"I'm just so pleased at the role Rutgers has been able to play at creating the Newark Mentoring Coalition," said Rutgers Chancellor Steven Diner, whose University houses the Coalition. "My parents were immigrants to the United States, and my father worked in a factory. Everything I've been able to achieve is because I had a good education and people at home and in my neighborhood who took care of me and mentored me. Every young person deserves those kinds of opportunities."
"The Newark Mentoring Coalition and its members work to provide a mentor for every child who wants one," said Rawaa Albilal, Interim Director of Newark Mentoring Coalition. "Children in mentoring programs perform better in school, and mentors can provide a window into a larger world that a child may not imagine on his or her own."
"Mentoring is a very powerful concept. Each and every one of us has some connection with a mentor that brought us along. For me, it's personal, because I was the youngest of eight children. My father was an unemployed coal miner. We were on public welfare, and my high school physics and chemistry teacher grabbed hold of me and said to me, 'Dennis, you have to set your sights higher.' And I did. Mentoring is also powerful within our corporate community. On behalf of the Newark Alliance and the corporations here, we urge would-be mentors to reach out to us. We will partner with you," said Verizon New Jersey President Dennis Bone.
In her remarks, Council President Mildred C. Crump paid tribute to numerous community activists and organizations for their mentoring efforts, singling out International Youth Organization President Carolyn Wallace. "I learned about mentoring from Carolyn Wallace. She taught me almost everything good that I know. I received a call from her in 1979, saying, 'They're putting together a group of residents to mentor City children.' It's because of Carolyn Wallace that I became a mentor."
Haitian-born West Ward resident and West Side High School 11th Grade Student Stephan Meme is volunteering to recruit mentees for the Rutgers University- RU Ready for Work Program which meets every Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday. The program trains mentors who coach students on various career choices, scholarship programs, how to prepare a resume, and how to give a positive impression during a job interview.
"Mentoring really made a difference in my life which is why I'm volunteering to recruit other mentees for this program," Meme said. My mentor taught me valuable lessons about the importance of having a strong work ethic and furthering my education. I tell other students if you are in need of a positive role model join a mentoring program. Mentoring is the way to go!"
The City of Newark began celebrating National Mentoring Month in 2008. National Mentoring Month is an initiative of the Harvard School of Public Health's Mentoring Project, MENTOR/National Mentoring Partnership, and the Corporation for National and Community Service.
As part of the National Mentoring Month Campaign - and to plan for long-term sustainability of mentoring for Newark's youth - Newark Community Foundation, United Way of Essex and West Hudson and the City of Newark teamed to form the Newark Mentoring Coalition last year.
The Newark Mentoring Coalition is comprised of Above the Rim, Inc. of Newark, Bethany Cares, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Essex, Union and Hudson Counties, Boy Scouts of America- Newark, Boys & Girls Clubs of Newark, Caucus Educational Corp., City of Newark - Department of Child and Family Well Being, Communities in Schools of NJ, Community Agencies Corp. of NJ, Community Foundation of New Jersey, Essex County College - Ready for College; iMentor, Jersey Cares, Mentoring USA, Newark Alliance, Newark Community Foundation of New Jersey, Newark Now, Newark Public Schools, The Nicholson Foundation, Preserve Our Legacy, Rutgers University, The MCJ/Amelior Foundation and the United Way of Essex and West Hudson.
Since taking office in July 2006, the Booker administration has worked diligently with its public and private partners to empower Newark's young residents with the tools they need to become productive citizens and achieve excellence. The City of Newark's "Children's Bill of Rights" is the basis for all city-wide youth empowerment initiatives which include the City's 12 Family Success Centers, the Summer Youth Work Experience Program, the Youth Employment and Education Success Center, the Brick City Scholarship Program and the Newark Mentoring Coalition. The City's enhanced recreation programs, like the annual Super Summer initiative and Cotillion Program, have also created new and innovative activities that help to empower young residents.
Carlos Valentin, executive director of ASPIRA received the award on behalf of ASPIRA.
"We started our organization in New York in 1961 and our New Jersey chapter has been open since 1968. I have been a kid in the program; later, I was a student representative in the program in 1998. I became executive director for New Jersey in 2008. We have 75 employees and hundreds of volunteers in the program. We serve mostly Latinos, but we do serve others in the community, including African-Americans. Our budget is 2.1 million dollars this year. We serve 5th thru 12th grade students by helping with their homework, afterschool program, juvenile justice program, boxing gym, and other programs. We have a TV studio and music studio to train students. Dr. Carrerra has a pregnancy prevention program. We open bank accounts for 5th graders, to teach them financing at an early age."
Valentin added, "I am very honored to receive this for the work the kids have done. I am a proud representative of them. We'd like to open up programs in more schools."
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