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 | | Jacksonville Mayor John Peyton emphasizes the importance of mentoring in our community to help students advance in academics and lower the city’s crime rate. |
On Saturday, June 21, United Ways across the nation will host a Day of Action highlighting the importance of volunteering and demonstrating the power of communities working together to advance the common good in the areas of education, income and health.
United Way of Northeast Florida announced its local plans as part of this national call to action at a media conference held at Ft. Caroline Middle School on May 14. Through a partnership with the City of Jacksonville, the Jacksonville Children’s Commission, Duval County Public Schools, and the Mentor First Coast Task Force, United Way is launching a community mobilization effort to expand the network of volunteer mentors in schools on the First Coast. This innovative approach will focus on addressing the area’s high school drop out crisis.
In 2007, more than 2,100 Duval County public school students dropped out of school. This rate is twice the average for the state of Florida. Studies indicate that more than 60 percent of accused murderers did not finish high school and one out of seven failed to reach 9th grade. Yet, research shows that one caring adult can have a positive, lasting impact in the life of a struggling student. Students who are mentored are 52 percent less likely to skip school and 46 percent less likely to get into drugs.
 | | Cheryl Grymes from Alliance for World Class Education, United Way of Northeast Florida Board of Trustee Chair Kevin Twomey, Jaime (a mentee and student at Ft. Caroline Middle School), and Warren Grymes from Big Brothers Big Sisters of Northeast Florida. |
Building upon its longstanding relationships with corporate and business partners, United Way has invited local businesses, companies and organizations to recruit new mentors from their ranks on a scale as never before seen on the First Coast. More than 25 businesses, including some of the region’s largest employers, have already stepped forward to lead internal mentor recruitment campaigns. Additional companies continue to sign up each day.
United Way and its partners will make becoming a mentor easy by streamlining the application process. In a single day at one location, Hemming Plaza, prospective mentors can complete orientation, initial screening and basic mentor training sessions. In addition, volunteers can sign up to mentor at specific schools leading to fall-time mentor matches. United Way and its partners will also host mentor training sessions in Clay and Nassau counties on June 21. To further emphasize the importance of giving back to the community, United Way’s Day of Action will also include a community rally and festival on Hemming Plaza from noon to 3 p.m. with food and family-friendly activities.
 | | Martha Barrett, Duval County School Board member, and Terri Cicero, Duval County Public Schools |
To kick off the mentor recruitment effort, Jacksonville Mayor John Peyton pledged to sign up 350 city employees, while Duval County School Superintendent Ed Pratt-Dannals challenged him with a pledge of 450 school employees.
“Because of our urgent need to find reliable adult mentors for students, I am pleased that the focus of United Way’s mentor recruitment effort is school-based mentoring programs,” said Pratt-Dannals.
“Mentoring is the number one, most important action we can use to prevent violent crime in Jacksonville,” stated Peyton. “It’s a crucial first step to close the gap on our mentor shortage, thereby reducing youth violence and helping students stay on track for graduation.”
The concerted effort aligns with goals set by Mayor Peyton in the Jacksonville Journey initiative and Superintendent Pratt-Dannals in the recently approved Duval County Public Schools Strategic Plan.
 | | Duval County School Superintendent Ed Pratt-Dannals addresses the need for adult mentors in schools on the First Coast. |
“We are so pleased that Mayor Peyton and the City of Jacksonville, School Superintendent Ed Pratt-Dannals and the Duval County Public Schools, and Mentor First Coast Task Force, a coalition of mentoring agencies, are partners with us to achieve this goal for our community’s students,” said Connie Hodges, President, United Way of Northeast Florida. “We are helping our youth move on the path toward success in academics and in life.”
To learn more about United Way’s Day of Action and mentor recruitment, contact Michelle Speisman at 390-3228 or visit www.aboutunitedway.org.
>> Also read about Day of Action
in the Florida Times-Union!
>> See a list of participating companies
>> Mentor at the school of your choice
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