HARTFORD, CT – Representatives from the Governor’s Prevention Association, legislators and mentors gathered Tuesday at the Legislative Office Building to announce the winners of the Connecticut Mentoring Fund awards.
The program is administered by the Governor’s Prevention Association, which issued a competitive request for proposals (RFP) this spring. The funding was made possible by a 2023 appropriation made by the legislature led by the Health Appropriations Subcommittee and championed by its co-chair, Rep. Patricia Dillon, D-New Haven. 25 programs across the state applied for funding, and 17 ultimately received grants ranging from $6,000 to a maximum of $25,000.
“One in three Connecticut youth could benefit from a relationship with a caring adult mentor, and most of them don’t have access to one,” said Governor’s Prevention Association Co-Chair Kelly Juleson. “As designed by the legislation and the RFP, these 17 awardees are prioritizing initiatives aimed at strengthening the recruitment of mentors in urban communities and the training of staff and mentors in diversity, equity and inclusion, as well as incorporating social-emotional learning practices within his mentor. training efforts.
The Association presented the Legislative Champion Award to Deputy Majority Leader Patricia Dillon, D-New Haven, for her continued support of the Mentoring Fund. Juleson credited Dillon for spearheading the effort to secure the necessary funding for the Fund.
“I would tell some people this weekend that anything we do like this is an act of hope. That we have to believe the best in ourselves and in young people,” Dillon said after accepting the award. “Two years ago, when we started trying to get this going through earmarks, it turned out that social isolation had gotten worse during the pandemic. We are very, very concerned about what was happening to young people. So I’m very excited about the work that the Prevention Partnership has done to give us the ability to really have an infrastructure to reach out to community groups across the state and have an RSP process so you can see who can respond positively to it. ”
Roland Harmon, the other co-president of the Association, discussed how important it is to have mentors for youth to be successful, particularly BIPOC mentors for underserved youth.
“We know that there are currently 10,000 young people in mentoring relationships, and there is still work to be done in terms of young people who want a mentor, who need a mentor, to be able to have the benefit of having a mentor in their life. —Harmon said. “And that’s why I would be encouraged today, our goal is to recruit more mentors. “We want to spread the word.”
Two young people who worked with ConnectiKids, one of the youth development programs that will receive a grant from the Mentoring Fund, spoke about how their mentors guided them as they grew up.
Through the ConnectiKids program, I learned how to improve my professional skills, how to write resumes, different interview skills and other things like that,” said Marcelus Brown, an 18-year-old recent graduate. “And overall, I’ve learned a multitude of skills from ConnectiKids and I think mentoring is really important in the community.”
Jasmine Jara shared how her experience on the show helped her choose her career path. She recently received certification to teach 2nd grade.
“I started ConnectiKids as an intern in high school and I’ve basically been with them for most of my teenage years,” Jara said. “It was the starting point of my teaching career… And so, in working with students, I realized that I want to help them learn and I want to help them grow. And thanks to ConnectiKids I was able to gain more experience. I was able to work with ConnectiKids and talk to them, I got into UConn, I got into the Neag School of Education, and from there I grew and flourished.”
Representative Dillon was not the only state legislator present. Rep. Geraldo Reyes Jr., D-Waterbury, applauded the success of the program.
“When I see programs like this, as Representative Dillon said, it is absolutely fantastic to see hope for our future, especially for BIPOC communities,” Reyes said. “This is very important. These programs are not what I call a handout. These are a hand up. This is exactly what we need to build unity in our community and truly help the little ones, which is exactly why we are here. Again, to the Connecticut Governor’s Prevention Association, well done and we will continue to advocate for this.”
Sen. Tony Hwang, R-Fairfield, discussed the impact that programs funded by the Mentoring Fund can have in the future.
“Mentoring is very powerful. It creates a multiplier effect,” Hwang said. “It lets these young people know that they are cared for and loved and empowers them to be successful. And that’s not just for this summer, but for the next five, 10 or 20 years. “They can see a future and they can also be mentors in the future.”
If you are interested in mentoring, you can learn more on the Governor’s Prevention Association website. website.
Organizations and programs receiving grants are listed below:
- Middletown: AM Hart Parenting Consulting
- Greater Bridgeport: Bernard Buddy Jordan Foundation; Bridgeport Public Education Fund; Family Justice Center; Elevate Bridgeport, Inc.; LiveGirl, Inc.
- Greater New Haven: CLICC, Inc; New Haven Public Schools; About this chosen rock generation
- Greater Hartford: ConnectiKids, Inc.; Capital State Community College; MPACT MENTORING Inc.; Sons of Thunder Coalition
- Niantic: The Samaritan House, Inc.
- Stamford: Stamford Public Education Fund, Starfish Connection
- Norwalk: Human Services Council-Norwalk Mentoring Program
- Statewide: Big Brothers Big Sisters of Connecticut, LiveGirl, Inc.
Keynote USA
For the Latest Local News, Follow Keynote USA Local on Twitter.