January marks National Mentoring Month across the United States! The annual campaign is aimed at expanding quality mentoring opportunities to connect more of our community's youth with caring adults. Mentors make an impact by providing young people with the tools to make responsible choices, attend and engage in school, and reduce or avoid risky behavior. 

Who do you turn to? 

If you are looking for someone to help with decisions and life in general, find a mentor today!  

Do you have what it takes to be a mentor?   

Most of us have had a teacher, supervisor, or coach who has been a mentor to us and made a positive difference in our lives. Those people wore many hats acting as delegators, role models, cheerleaders, policy enforcers, advocates, and friends. Mentors assume these different roles and share some basic qualities such as: 

• A sincere desire to be involved with a mentee, 
• Respect for young people, 
• Active listening skills, 
• Empathy, 
• Ability to see solutions and opportunities, and 
• Flexibility. 

Explore being a mentor or advocate for mentoring by visiting the Illinois Mentor website. 

Spread the word for mentoring! 

Look through the national Campaigns for ways to promote mentoring and share on Facebook, Twitter, or other social media platforms. 

Also, be sure to check out these Illinois workNet resources and articles on mentoring: 

• Becoming a Mentor
  
• Why Youth Mentoring Matters 
• How Youth Mentoring Can Help You 
• Event Calendar

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