K 25: Memorializing Governor Kathy Hochul to proclaim January 2025, as Mentoring Month in the State of New York

 Assembly Resolution No. 25 BY: M. of A. Epstein MEMORIALIZING Governor Kathy Hochul to proclaim January 2025, as Mentoring Month in the State of New York, in conjunction with the observance of National Mentoring Month WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body to recognize official months that are set aside to increase awareness of issues that affect the lives of the citizens of this State and Nation; and WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and in full accord with its long-standing traditions, it is the intent of this Legislative Body to memorialize Governor Kathy Hochul to proclaim January 2025, as Mentoring Month in the State of New York, in conjunction with the observance of National Mentoring Month; and WHEREAS, National Mentoring Month is a campaign run throughout January by MENTOR and MENTOR Affiliates across the country; launched in 2002, the campaign aims to unify and expand the mentoring movement, celebrate the power of relationships, and raise awareness around the importance of youth mentoring in the United States; and WHEREAS, Mentoring is an essential part of closing the opportunity gap that exists across our society, talent is equally distributed, however, opportunity is not; mentoring gives every young person a fair chance to graduate college and fulfill their potential; and WHEREAS, Young people who were at-risk for not completing high school, but who had a mentor were 55% more likely to be enrolled in college than those who did not have a mentor; they were also: 81% more likely to report participating regularly in sports or extracurricular activities, 78% more likely to volunteer regularly in their communities, and more than twice as likely to say they held a leadership position in a club or sports team; and WHEREAS, Mentoring provides support and instills confidence in first generation college students, which can make all the difference on their path to a successful life; first generation students with mentors are far more likely to attend and graduate from college than students without; and WHEREAS, Mentoring is a tool to uplift historically oppressed communities where New York's most vulnerable populations reside, providing guidance, support and access to resources otherwise not available to these communities; and WHEREAS, The benefits of mentorship uplifts a variety of enterprises, including the development of employees, support of young people, and inspiration and preparation of college students; and WHEREAS, Mentoring not only has positive impacts on mentees, but also provides an opportunity for mentors to expand their own knowledge and experience, making for a more compassionate society; mentoring enables people to unleash their full potential by learning from others; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to memorialize Governor Kathy Hochul to proclaim January 2025, as Mentoring Month in the State of New York, in conjunction with the observance of National Mentoring Month; and be it further RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be transmitted to The Honorable Kathy Hochul, Governor of the State of New York.