Reaching Out: Its all about Community....right?

January is National Mentor Awareness Month - those several weeks when our governments National and State recognize the power and importance of this most valuable civic/social activity.

Here in Stanislaus County, this January (2009) marks an impressive milestone in our local flavor of youth mentoring as our County Employee Mentor program turns an impressive 10 years young....

Thats right - ten years.

No typo.

This is an undeniable testimony to the employees of our county - from all employment walks: healthcare to public works, workforce assistance to the Chief Executive Office, our employees give back.

These mentor champions give back, not for some monetary reward or overt public display of heroism, rather, out of an overwhelming sense of community and community pride.

So what is in the water here in Stanislaus County that has allowed this uncanny sustainability to transpire? Why here? What defines this success culture? After all, as a region we experience many of the same struggles and hardships that other locations grapple with and perhaps (in some instances) we may even have it a little tougher. Why do so many public employees find the energy and the passion to give of their lunch times, after work or weekends to spend time with a struggling third grader or socially/academically lost fifth grader?

I believe that the reasons (there are several) are simple but noteworthy:

1. Our County leadership is committed to this cause.

The County Board of Supervisors, the Stanislaus Office of Education, and local business and service groups understand the positive social and civic ramification of spending quality time with young people. There has NEVER been a hard sell, stealth marketing tactic, or political wrangle applied to reach these multiple leaderships - they simply care... very much.

In many instances senior leaders are themselves actively involved, a classic example of "walk the talk" leadership.

2. Mentoring is addictive.

Over the years I have talked with dozens of fellow employees and partner/affiliate participants and to the person they reflect a value to self more powerful than time or influence.

Bottom line: They get more out of the experience than the students and this wonderful eppiphany fuels returning mentors and inspires a rich word of mouth infrastructure that helps the program thrive.

3. The education community is on board.

We are very fortunate to have committed school sites and principals that recognize the fragility of this effort and they continuously monitor the ease and accessibility of the program so that employees experience a process that is effortless and rewarding.

In a time when governments are increasingly bashed and berated and public sector "servants" stereotyped as indifferent, faceless and paper driven - I believe that we need to strike some fairness and balance against the typical machine rant. There is a movement afoot in Stanislaus County. A movement by, between and among employees, service clubs, education and businesses that is commendable, worthy, simple, inexpensive and proven.

I encourage you to check our program out and consider emulating something similar in your own communities. Reaching out IS all about community and a very special synergy has been born through youth mentoring activities growing in the very fertile social soils of Stanislaus County.

[for more information on the Stanislaus County Mentor Program visit: www.employeementors.com]