Mentoring-Devoting Time to Children

Mentoring is a word that has arisen in the counseling world in the last 5 to 10 years. It means guidance through positive association. Mentors develop positive relationships with youth in order to provide guidance, spiritual inspiration, education, and encouragement. Mentors attempt to enrich the life experiences of youth by providing a variety of educational experiences.

Mentors make themselves available to young people in a non judgemental way. Whenever there are questions about anything, whether it is school, personal trials, their future, or any other concern, mentors have time for children.

The doors are open for children to come by for fellowship, reading, counseling, arts and crafts, and field trips. They learn life skills about peer pressure, anger management and study skills.

Faith based lesson handouts that teach virtuous qualities like perseverance and determination to stick with goals, are always on hand. This is important. Many local youth give up and drop out of high school because of the challenges of life and the lack of motivation.

We teach the student biblical principles such as the Lords Prayer, the Parables, and the books of the Bible. Student learn about the lives of Biblical characters like David, and Joseph, and others. When we began working with the students, only one out of 20 said that they attended church. Now all of the students attend church weekly, and are pastored by Rev. Johnny Hill. Rev. Hill's ministry incorporates many interesting outlets for the youth, including travel, youth oriented interests such as magic shows, and getting the students involved in music and ministry.

Students are encouraged to take pride in their communities. Both youth and adults participate in the ongoing "Don't Trash Ruleville" campaign. They are taught to pray for the city, and strengthen the unity of the city by refraining from bullying, intimidation, and other negative character traits common to adolescents. We teach history from the perspective of those who made it. Civil Rights Veteran Charles McLaurin helped us get started shortly after we organized with a workshop for the children.

Several times a year, a major trip is planned for those who have earned the right to participate. Frequent local trips to nearby towns like Cleveland, Indianola, Clarksdale and others help the students become aware of our Delta landmarks in these towns. They provide outings, education, and enjoyment. The girls attended the Church of Christ community outreach to help prevent health problems in women, in Indianola in 2008.

Among our cultural field trips have been trips to the National Civil Rights Museum, the Memphis Riverside Tour, The Staxx Museum of American Soul Music, the Delta Blues Museum as well as Summer and Fall outings to local fairs, and festivals within the county. The students are taught about the unique history of the Mississippi Delta through books, magazines, and library tours. Willie and Cathy Cade of California sponsored a book drive in 2008 that netted hundreds of books, tapes, and other resources for our program.

The summer of 2008, the Hamer Cultural Center welcomed tourist from colleges and universities, including Minnestoa Tech University and 25 teachers from the Alameda County Schools in Alameda, California. High School students from the Hamer Institute listened to Mr. McLaurin and others talk about Delta Civil Rights History. He challenged the students to become involved in helping their own communities. Students from Harvard University, Cambridge, Mass, visited the Hamer Memorial on March 28, 2009, and were greeted by Mr. McLaurin, Mrs. Jordan and Mrs.Rawlings.

Parenting/Life Skills Coordinator Edna Beverly will hold monthly seminars to educate and enrich the bonds of parent and child relationships with the goals of strengthening our community. Our first effort was the youth rally held on the 11th of April, which unified teachers and church leaders to combine our efforts to strive together to improve our city.

This summer our focus is community outreach. We are encouraging adults to get to know every child and teen in their neighborhood. We are asking every responsible adult to make themselves available to help, encourage, pray and nurture neighborhood children this summer. Our goal is to develop positive, helpful relationships with our children, to make Ruleville a village where adults are concerned about every child. We encourage all adults to be a "GATE" for the summer 2009.

JWR