Gwinnett County Public Schools (GCPS) and its Community-Based Mentoring Program celebrates National Mentoring Month during the month of January. In addition to spotlighting the importance of mentoring, GCPS is committed to increasing the number of quality mentoring opportunities in order to connect more young people with caring adults. Currently, GCPS has mentoring programs that connect potential community mentors with African-American and Hispanic male and female students in grades 6 through 12. These programs provide guidance, encouragement, and support, helping the students  become successful young adults, both in and out of school.

Program	Start Date	Serves	# of Active Mentees	Director
African American Boys	2009	Boys in grades 6-12	456 students from 48 schools	James Rayford
African American Girls	2018	Girls in grades 6-12	370 students from 41 schools	Nicole Tomlinson
Hispanic Girls	2019	Girls in grades 6-12	177 students from 31 schools	Nury Castillo Crawford
Hispanic Boys	2021	Boys in grades 6-12	107 students from 19 schools	Oj Soto

“Mentors play a critical role in the lives of many of our students,” says James Rayford, director of the African-American Boys priority. “We serve students one-to-one and in small groups providing them with valuable advice and insight in an effort to help young people navigate through confusing and turbulent times.”

Nicole Tomlinson, director of the African-American Girls priority, says the mentoring program caters to the “whole” student. “We also offer Saturday Life Lessons,” Thomlinson said. “It’s a monthly program that provides lessons and activities to engage our students, parents, and mentors. In addition, we involve parents through our Parent Empowerment Conference, College Tours, Summer Camps, Field Trips, College & Career Summit. And, we build on the relationships and learning by celebrating with a Mentor Appreciation Dinner, Volunteer Appreciation Dinner, and End of Year Banquet.”

Oj Soto, director of the Hispanic Boys priority adds, “Studies show mentors can play a powerful role in providing young people with the tools to make responsible choices, attend and engage in school, and reduce or avoid risky behaviors.” He shares that in turn, these young people are:

• 55% more likely to be enrolled in college
• 81% more likely to report participating in sports or extracurricular activities.
• 78% more likely to volunteer regularly in their communities.
• More than twice as likely to say they held a leadership position in a club or sports team”

Research also shows that 9 million young people in the United States will grow up without a mentor. “A mentor is like a madrina or padrino for our kids,” said Nury Castillo Crawford, director of the Hispanic Girls priority. “Like in a family, mentors guide and lead, but most of all they listen and care.”  

In order to serve as a mentor in the Community-Based Mentoring Program, interested individuals must be 21 years of age or older and attend a Volunteer Mentor Training Session. Once a person determines they want to become a mentor—committing to serve for a minimum of one year as a mentor—the person completes a background check and the mentor application. Upon completion of those steps, training is provided and the mentor is matched to a student. Interested in becoming a mentor? Call 770-682-8086.