"It only takes four hours" Why mentoring is essential to change

Format

Individual Presentation

Location

Ballroom E

Strand #1

Social & Emotional Skills

Strand #2

Safety & Violence Prevention

Relevance

Mentoring is an essential component in changing the lives of youth. Having a mentor can increase their social and emotional skills. Having a mentor helps to build their self esteem, how they communicate with others, having the confidence to know they are great. Mentoring also helps to decrease the violence in youth, it assist with making the right decisions and keeping them out of jail. Mentoring also increases individuals chances of graduating because they have someone who believes in them.

Brief Program Description

In the current world we live in, having a mentor in a child's life is necessary. Everyday more and more youth find themselves fighting a battle of acceptance from others, they find themselves dealing with a negative home life, and a non interest in education. This workshop will show you why mentoring is essential for changing a child's life, and how to help them find one or become one yourself.

Summary

It only takes four hours to change a young individuals life. Often times youth just need to know that there is someone that cares. They need to know that someone is cheering for them to do better. They need to have someone to make proud. That’s where mentoring comes in. In this current society children and teens deal with so much more than the previous generation. Yes they have so much more to offer them, but because of social media they lack proper social skills. Because of the attitude of instant gratification and wanting things now, they are making poorer choices. Because the world has become so busy, more individuals are not reaching back and contributing to the lives of the youth. There has been an increase in juvenile arrest from the previous years. There has been an increase in homicides versus the previous years. And even though the graduation rate has increased, there is still a high drop out rate. This workshop will show the participants why mentoring works, and why it its so important to mentor and find a mentor for the youth in their area. They will see how the positive statistic can change the negative statistic. Participants will learn my 5 tips on how to be a great mentor. They will also learn my 5 tips on understanding teenagers. Participants will leave with important knowledge on mentoring. They will be able to find mentors for youth, or become one themselves. This is an important topic, and one of the most crucial issues of our time. Workshop participants will learn why it truly only takes four hours to change a life.

Evidence

Evidence is taken from research done by The Boys & Girls Clubs of America and the Big Brothers Big Sisters Program.

Biographical Sketch

Whether it's being a mentor, volunteering, or working as a youth professional, Keon M. Merriett has over twelve years of experience working with teens. Having come from humble beginnings, Keon felt that he was led to work with youth because of the help he received from his former mentor - Floyd Moore. Keon has been instrumental in changing several lives over the years. He has been a basketball coach, a mentor, a youth professional, a teen director at a nationally recognized after school program, a drama instructor at a private school, and a motivational speaker. Being led by the spirit of God, Keon will continue to be a voice for the voiceless, a map for the lost, and an agent for change.

Keyword Descriptors

Mentor, change, youth, youth development

Presentation Year

2016

Start Date

3-8-2016 8:30 AM

End Date

3-8-2016 9:45 AM

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Mar 8th, 8:30 AM Mar 8th, 9:45 AM

"It only takes four hours" Why mentoring is essential to change

Ballroom E

In the current world we live in, having a mentor in a child's life is necessary. Everyday more and more youth find themselves fighting a battle of acceptance from others, they find themselves dealing with a negative home life, and a non interest in education. This workshop will show you why mentoring is essential for changing a child's life, and how to help them find one or become one yourself.