On today's show, Adrian and Ethan discuss mentoring and its role in helping ensure positive outcomes for young people.
January is National Mentoring Month. Launched in 2002 by MENTOR National and the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, National Mentoring Month focuses national attention on the need for mentors and the positive effect it can have on young lives.
A positive relationship with a “caring adult” is the most important factor in helping youth reach their goals and become purposeful, responsible citizens. Mentoring guarantees young people that they are not alone in facing the challenges of everyday life…there is someone who cares about them and makes them feel like they matter. Young people need to be surrounded by individuals who love, care for, appreciate and accept them.
Studies show that children who have just one consistent, caring adult in their lives are less likely to drop out of school, have fewer run-ins with the law and build better relationships with their own families.
Sadly, 1 in 3 young people will grow up without a mentor. Today, 8.5 million youth continue to lack supportive, sustained relationships with caring adults.
Incredible Kids
We can always count on kids to see the issues and set out to make a difference…
10-Year-Old Liam Hannon Launches Liam’s Lunches of Love
Meet Liam.
“I’ve seen people who are feeling really down on themselves. But when we hand them a lunch, their faces just light up.”
When challenged by a 2017 summer project to reach out to the homeless community, then 10-year old Liam had only to look out his front door. He and his family live in Cambridge’s Central Square, a neighborhood that attracts a steady number of homeless people. His idea – to make lunch for some of the folks he saw in the Square, mushroomed. Twenty lunches became 40 became 60 and Liam’s Lunches of Love was born.
The duo was able to keep the deliveries going during the pandemic and over the past four years, they've delivered nearly 15,000 meals.
On any given Sunday, you might see 14-year-old Liam Hannon and his dad walking in Cambridge, feeding people in need.
