It’s been asserted by many child experts, educators, and a former First Lady, that it takes a whole village to raise a child.

Our current fractured — and sometimes fractious — lifestyles don’t usually provide for that kind of community attention to the average child’s upbringing. Yet any positive, individual attention from an adult in a kid’s formative years can make a huge difference in whether that kid will have a successful, constructive life when he or she grows up.

Many of us can remember a time in our lives when an adult saw our potential and offered support and guidance. I, like many others, can remember a teacher who believed in me, but it could be anyone inside or outside of the child’s family; a teacher, a clergy member, a relative or family friend.

But this type of encouragement shouldn’t be left to chance; kids grow up fast, and there’s all the usual suspects — the bad influences out there, waiting to step in to snare the vulnerable.  Fortunately, there is organized help available to put supportive adults and kids together in a mentoring relationship

A couple of Sundays ago, the Greater Mount Zion Church in Prince Frederick was the scene of an enthusiastic and energetic rally of county officials, child welfare organizations and just plain folks, who believe that every kid deserves to have a mentor who can improve the transition to adult life….. read on!

via: SoMDNews.com

Young people have more time away from their parents, more access to peer and cultural influences and less community cohesion to help steer them through the rough seas of adolescence than ever before. Where church and multigenerational family life, structured farm seasons and intimate neighborhoods once worked together to help young people grow into adulthood, today’s youth often lack those “asset building” relationships. The Calvert County Mentoring Partnership is working to build youth and families up, where life’s challenges present themselves.

On Jan. 23, the Calvert County Mentoring Partnership hosted its sixth annual National Mentoring Month Rally to draw attention to the needs of Calvert County youth and the opportunities available to adults interested in investing their lives in the next generation.

Roseanna Vogt, CCMP co-chairwoman and Circle of Angels director, said the annual rally, previously held as a breakfast, generally attracts between 75 and 100 attendees. This year, the free chili dinner occurred during NFL playoffs.

“We weren’t even thinking [about the potential schedule conflict]. This was our first year serving dinner, instead of breakfast, and we had 77 attendees,” Vogt said. “Not bad, for a game night.” …read on!

via: SoMdNews.com

Each year since its start in 2005, the Calvert County Mentoring Partnership has held a breakfast event inviting more community members to become mentors for young people. This year, the group is switching from a casual breakfast to an evening rally, past chairwoman and current member Lorraine Joyner said.

“While we’ve been successful in getting the word out, we also want to say we’ve increased our mentors in the county,” Joyner said. “Right now at this point we can’t say we’ve done that. So it’s kind of been a mixed success. We feel like we can probably do more.”

The mentoring partnership is a working committee that includes representatives from a variety of local nonprofits, public agencies and private citizens that meets monthly to discuss the benefits and impact of mentoring on youth and to develop strategies to provide additional mentoring opportunities, according to the Calvert County Web page for the group.

Joyner called the current state of the group “a loose-knit coalition” because most of its members, from 18 different community nonprofit and government agencies, balance their volunteerism with full-time jobs.

“A lot of people can’t take the time off work,” she said.

That is another reason this year’s sixth annual mentoring rally will take place from 5 to 6:30 p.m. on Jan. 23 at Greater Mount Zion Church, located on German Chapel Road in Prince Frederick…. read on!

via: SoMdNews.com

The Circle of Angels Initiative Inc. will hold its annual launch party from 12:30 to 5 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 18, at the Calvert Library Prince Frederick. Members of the community are invited to join the volunteer organization, a faith-based community started in 1999 to advocate policy initiatives that eliminate poverty and prevent risky behaviors like chemical addiction, bullying, domestic violence and self-destructive behaviors.

Attendees will enjoy free food and hot cider as they learn about programs that promote family help, youth mentoring and networking. Family programs include Calvert food pantries, Commission for Women, Calvert Crisis Intervention, League of Women Voters, Daughters of Abraham Luke 13:10-17, HELP Association (Northern Calvert County), Housing for All Coalition, In God’s Care Inc., Lethality Assessment Program, Mutual Aid Housing, SMARTCO and SMILE (Southern Calvert County). Youth and networking programs include South County Assistance Network of Anne Arundel County, Calvert Crusade for Children & Youth, Calvert Mentoring Partnership, Southern Maryland Celtic Society, Southern Maryland Action Coalition, Web For All, Women Moving Forward Conference, Women of the World Conference, World War II Day, World War II Unit, Living History Association and USO Night.

via: SoMdNews.com