Young Men in Mentoring in Southgate

Paula Evans Neuman, of the The News-Herald tells of a successful effort that has paired 60 male High School mentors with elementary school students in the same district. She writes,

The program, called Big Brothers/Little Brothers, was started last year due to “the need for our elementary boys to have mentors,” school social worker Karen Dunholter said.

“This year, we had many of the athletes requesting to return and have the same little brother,” she said.

Last week, the boys, big and small, worked together with Pewabic Pottery artists to create clay sculptures. 

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“The elementary boys are sometimes more in need of a positive male role model because they are usually surrounded by women,” Dunholter said.

Many boys grow up in single-parent households headed by a mother or grandmother, and most of their grade-school teachers are women, she said. “We felt that a large number of boys would benefit from an ongoing positive relationship with an older student,”

She citied statistics that show boys having more social problems, such as low self-esteem and anger management issues, and more instances of school discipline than girls.

“The goal of this program is to build trust through mentoring and activities that promote positive self-image in the elementary boys who are at risk academically and socially,” Dunholter said.

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Activities have included games, sports and craft activities. The meetings are supervised by two school social workers and two coaches.

At the end of the last school year, the boys were able to attend a Detroit Tigers baseball game together, thanks to a grant from Sam’s Club and the help of a Tigers player, Dunholter said. 

This year as the final activity, the Big Brothers and Little Brothers will use the gym and rock-climbing wall at the Southgate YMCA, thanks to a grant from the Colina Foundation.

“We hope the ongoing relationship with a positive male role model keeps the students engaged in school, improves their attendance and results in better grades,” Dunholter said.

The high school boys who participate also benefit “They learn how to give back, be responsible and care for someone without getting paid to do it, and have the satisfaction in helping someone mature and achieve their potential.”

This success story reminds us that young men can make a difference and be effective mentors. The Men in Mentoring Toolkit offers tips on recruiting younger men, which you can freely download HERE.

How does your program engage younger men as mentors? Has it worked for you as well?