August 1st marked the start of the 2nd Annual City-wide Mentor Recruitment Campaign for Midlands Mentoring Partnership (MMP). Midlands Mentoring Partnership is a Collective Impact organization that partners with 11 mentoring agencies in the Omaha area to increase both the quality and quantity of mentoring relationships.
MMP Partner Organizations:
Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Midlands
Girls Incorporated of Omaha
Hope Center for Kids
Kent Bellows Mentoring Program
Kids Can Community Center
Ollie Webb Inc.
Partnership 4 Kids
Release Ministries
TeamMates Mentoring Program
Youth Emergency Services
100 Black Men of Omaha, Inc.
In Omaha alone, there are 30,000 youth living under the poverty line. Of those 30,000, only 3000 have been fortunate enough to gain the helpful guidance and support of a formal mentor. “Our youth can grow into responsible and contributing members of society with the right supports in place, and for only four hours a month, each of us can make a significant difference,” said John Ewing, MMP Board Member. During the 2014 recruitment campaign, MMP, along with its partners, aims to recruit more than 640 additional mentors to support the youth in our community.
Quality Mentoring Relationships in the Community Can Lead to:
Fewer teen dropouts
A decrease in teen substance abuse
Fewer teen pregnancies
A more engaged workforce for businesses who have employees that mentor
On Wednesday, August 4, 2014, MMP kicked off its campaign with a press conference that included remarks from Mayor Jean Stothert, and President and CEO of the Greater Omaha Chamber, David Brown. Mayor Stothert encouraged Omaha citizens to learn more about becoming a mentor, while David Brown stated “We don’t coast—we mentor!” MMP Board President, Julie Hefflinger may have said it best when she stated, “Regardless of your background or age, the greatest gift you have to offer a young person is your genuine interest in their life and your willingness to listen attentively to them. Mentoring experiences come in all kinds of shapes and sizes, but all mentors help young people achieve their potential and discover their strengths.”
Interested in becoming a mentor? Want to learn more about the programs you volunteer for? Visit www.MentorOmahaNow.org to find out which program is best for you. You can also find more information and follow our campaign progress on Facebook , Instagram and Twitter.
