“Mentoring is a low-cost, high-result way of transforming even the most challenged young people lives,” Susan L. Taylor, founder/CEO of National CARES Mentoring Movement, told The American.
The editor-emeritus of Essence Magazine will speak at the New Life in Christ Interdenominational Church, 689 Scott Troy Rd. in O’Fallon, Ill. 6-8 p.m. Saturday, November 13.
Taylor will visit the Metro East church to help launch Project 2011. The project is dedicated to students from East St. Louis Senior High School, who were adopted by local organizers and mentors.
Bishop G. Vincent Dudley Sr. of New Life in Christ Interdenominational Church had a vision to impact the community.
“Mentoring is the most generational impact we have. The next step is to step forward and offer yourself,” Dudley said.
Three years ago the church started Project 2011 to help students receive mentoring. Over 100 students get to mentor one-on-one with someone, and the whole class of students at East St. Louis Senior High receives group mentoring.
“This is giving me the opportunity to see transformation that is rewarding,” Dudley said.
Now Dudley is trying to get other local churches to help with mentoring students. He wants people to come out and make a difference for African-American students and hopes that Taylor’s message will help.
Taylor started the National CARES Mentoring Movement in 2006 after Hurricane Katrina and decided to leave Essence so she could focus on the effort.
“The National CARES Mentoring Movement is a call to commitment to every able African American to get involved and rescue our children with a mentoring and modeling relationship,” Taylor said.
Taylor wants others to replicate what Dudley is doing with a small church adopting a classroom, mid-sized church adopting a grade and a mega church adopting a school.
“We support them emotionally, encourage them, inspire and listen. Young people are yearning to be heard,” Taylor said.
“Within a decade we’ll change the landscape of urban America and write a new history for our children and people.”
Doors for the Saturday, November 13 event open at 5:30 p. m. Alton High School’s A-Town Steppers also will perform with other local acts.
For more information on National CARES Mentoring Movement, visit www.caresmentoring.org. For information on New Life in
Christ Interdenominational Church, visit nlicic.org.
