Making A Difference in Young Men's Lives

"Statistics show that boys who have mentors are two times less likely to be involved in bullying, fighting, gangs, or drug abuse. They are also two times more likely to believe that school is fun and that doing well academically is important. They see me once a month, imagine if there were enough mentors for them to sit down with one every day." - Dr. Ron Kelly

As part of the "Motivational Leaders" Mentoring Program at Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Academy, led by Dr. Ron Kelly; NBA Legends Johnny Moore and Nevil Shed, Dr. Michael J. Laney and Gerald Givens Jr. mentored, sponsored shirts and ties for all of the boys. The King Academy Principal, Tash Pinnix made it all happen!

Dr. Ron Kelley, CEO, National School Improvement Corporation-NSI, and one of America’s leading education experts and motivational speakers has written several critically-acclaimed books that have made an impact on educators worldwide.

Never Too Young to Volunteer

St. Monica Catholic School, PTA requested that I speak to their students grades K-8 about volunteering. I wholeheartedly agree that more needs to go into teaching about volunteering. However, I feel that those who use volunteers need to do a better job of communicating the outcome of the project before, after and during the activity. Kids will not see it as helping another person but as a job if we do not let them know why they are doing the project. Also, what the impact of the project will have on the person they are helping. This is something which needs to be done more with the volunteers regardless of their age so they feel valued.

I introduced the idea of volunteering to students: what it means to volunteer, the history of it, reasons why, etc. The long-term goal is to have a student organization in each of our elementary, middle and high schools that recruits, manages and trains volunteers for student created volunteering and civic engagement projects.  They will become the experts on their respective campuses that other student groups will look to for project management assistance and peer training.

Here are some ideas:

• add community service workshops to every summer reading list handed out to youth.

• offer a train the trainer workshop for educators at every conference on volunteerism and formally invite school districts.

• create a service learning team within the scope of every association/membership supporting the field of non profit

• partner with libraries to educate

• partner with corporate volunteer teams to advocate

• create adopt-an-agency programs that focus on one charity each month. Invite speakers, coordinate an agency-specific program and have students write about their experience for the local media

• non profits can develop a Youth Board that pools talent from area high school students

Click on the book me now button below and let’s work on a plan for your schools.