Celebrating Blue Ribbon Mentor Advocate
By: BJ Lawson
Our legislators in Washington spend a lot of time and taxpayer money talking about the great things our federal government does for us. This recent release from Rep. David Price’s Web site illustrates how he was able to bring $14.5 million “back” to our District to fund a variety of projects, for a variety of purposes.
Some of these projects are appropriately the role of government. The problem is that none of these projects are the role of the federal government. Why must we always go begging in Washington to get some of our money back for projects that should be funded by our state and local governments?
Can we survive without begging a bankrupt federal government for help? Can the people of North Carolina, and the 4th District, really take care of themselves, and each other, while making our community a better place?
The more people I meet in my congressional campaign, the more convinced I am that we are capable of making the world, and our community, a much better place. I’ve written previously about the fantastic work being done at Durham Nativity School. More recently, I’ve had the pleasure of spending time with Graig Meyer, a local educational activist in Chapel Hill who founded and runs the Blue Ribbon Mentor Advocate Program.
BRMA demonstrates the best aspects of public/private partnership, and today is successfully bringing out the best in our next generation. Graig started BRMA in 1995, and it is specifically focused on closing the “achievement gap” for disadvantaged students in the Chapel Hill/Carrboro school system.
It operates on a “strength based” framework, where the mentor recognizes that while challenges exist in the student’s life and environment, the best foundation for improvement is identifying and cultivating areas where the student has strengths and natural abilities. In other words, “What’s the hook?” that allows that student to grab on, discover him or herself, and start exploring the world from a true position of strength.
Another key attribute of BRMA is that they identify students who seek out adult attention, and family situations where the parent is eager to participate in the process. In that fertile environment, a mentor can gradually change the sense of what’s possible and literally give a child an entirely new life.
The duration of the mentoring relationship is the single most important predictor of success. Recognizing that fact, BRMA mentors commit for at least two years, for two hours per week. Also, BRMA provides twelve hours of training to ensure mentors are ready to benefit themselves, and the student, as much as possible in a truly mutual-growth process.
So how well does it work? Well, the numbers are startling: 100% of BRMA’s students have graduated and gone on to post-secondary education. Sixty percent of BRMA students have the same mentor from fourth grade (when the program begins) until high school graduation. That’s a great example of a program that just flat-out works.
So how much federal money is required for BRMA? None. It receives no federal funding or grants. Two-thirds of its operating expenses are paid for by the school district, and private funds are raised every year for a variety of summer and after-school events, as well as college scholarships. Right now, 91 students in grades 4-12 enjoy a mentoring relationship, and 80 high school students are participating in a separate Youth Leadership Institute organized by BRMA.
Graig Meyer is a fantastic example of a committed individual whose focused and disciplined leadership has organized other committed individuals to help provide new opportunities for an entire population of children. BRMA’s success is rewarded by a vibrant and growing program, and in the tradition of “social entrepreneurship”, we need to celebrate and recognize this success so it continues to grow.
Right now, BRMA is recruiting mentors for the upcoming year, and hopes to identify another 20 volunteers this spring. If you are a graduate student, young professional, empty-nester, or retiree in Orange County who wants to help a child build a foundation for the future, please visit the BRMA Web site to sign up and learn more.
We all face challenges, and problems, in life. Many of today’s children face tremendous problems that need focused, caring attention. I think Graig put it best when he said, “We want to give children the strengths and the skills to walk away from their problems.”
January 22nd, 2008 at 1:05 pm
This recent release from Rep. David Price’s Web site illustrates how he was able to bring $14.5 million “back” to our District to fund a variety of projects, for a variety of purposes.
I would vastly prefer that Mr. Price kept that money from leaving the area in the first place.
Better yet, I’d like to have him spend some time on Monster.com trying to figure out what he’s going to do with the rest of his life.
January 22nd, 2008 at 11:08 pm
Fortunately, unlike most working Americans today, Rep. Price has been blessed with a nice Congressional pension. So he should be able to enjoy retirement without needing to worry about Monster.com.
I wonder what our Founders would think about a Congressional pension plan?
That’s one of my goals to restore a Constitutional federal government — term limits are one thing, but let’s start by axing the Congressional pension plan.
April 8th, 2008 at 5:37 pm
[...] make a difference in our own communities. Highlighting efforts such as Durham Nativity School and Blue Ribbon Mentor Advocate has been one of the true pleasures of this [...]