25-Jan-2011
Legislature Declares NM Mentorship Week

New Mexico First calls on adults to become mentors    

Santa Fe, NM – New Mexico Legislature declared this week to be “New Mexico Mentorship Week.” Identical senate and house memorials were approved Tuesday morning, calling on public officials, business and community leaders, and all New Mexicans to recognize the importance of mentoring young people.  

The public policy organization New Mexico First hosted town halls during May and June of 2010 entitled Raising the Aspirations of New Mexico Youth, at which about 300 people from all regions of the state recognized the importance of adult role models and mentors for youth. (Other recommendations included the need for more parental involvement, focusing on career readiness, encouraging community engagement, and creating more responsive schools.)    

“I am tremendously encouraged that this legislation will help to provide the building blocks necessary to create more mentoring relationships,” said Heather Balas, president of New Mexico First. “I urge adults to make a difference in the life of a child or teen by becoming a mentor.”  

Data shows that children matched with Big Brothers or Big Sisters are: 46% less likely to start using illegal drugs, 27% less likely to start using alcohol, 52% less likely to skip a day of school, 33% less likely to hit someone or get in a fight, and Are more trusting of parents or guardians and less likely to lie to them. Despite these benefits, the gap between the number of mentors and the number of young people who need a mentor continues to grow. Today, 15 million young people need a caring adult mentor in their lives.   Several mentoring programs exist in New Mexico.  Opportunities can be found at www.abqpartnership.org/mentor or at www.nationalmentoringmonth.org.    

The memorials establishing New Mexico Mentorship Week were sponsored by New Mexico Senator Gay Kernan (R), and New Mexico Representative Brian Egolf (D).