January is National Mentoring Month
Every day at Boys & Girls Clubs across the Mississippi Delta, a quiet, powerful transformation happens. It’s not always in a planned lesson or a scheduled activity. It happens in the moments in-between: a word of encouragement after a missed shot, a patient explanation during homework hour, a high-five for trying something new.
This is the work of a mentor.
After all, when you feel safe, you can be yourself. When you’re listened to, you’re more likely to speak up. And when there’s an adult in your life who believes in you, the world feels full of possibilities.
This January, we join Boys & Girls Clubs of America and the nation in celebrating National Mentoring Month—a time to honor the incredible impact of these caring relationships and to amplify the call for more adults to step forward.
The National Network of Support
For millions of young people, the Club is a haven. At more than 5,400 Boys & Girls Clubs across the nation and on U.S. military installations worldwide, kids and teens find more than just programs; they find a mentor. These are caring adults who listen. Who connect youth with opportunities. Who provide guidance without judgment.
Our own Club staff across the Delta are the embodiment of this mission. They are trained professionals committed to empowering youth to reach their full potential. They’re a listening ear, a cheering squad, a nudge in a new direction. They show up day after day in Belzoni, Clarksdale, Greenwood, and all our locations to help kids know their value and use their voices.
Mentorship in the Mississippi Delta
From conversations over a game of checkers in Cleveland to helping a teen in Grenada prepare for their first job interview, our mentors and staff are there. They guide youth through the challenges of school, the complexities of growing up, and the excitement of discovering new talents. They are steadfast through good days and bad, and all the decisions in-between.
Our mentors come in many forms: our dedicated unit director in Jonestown who opens the doors every day, the MVSU student volunteering for Power Hour tutoring in Itta Bena, the community professional leading a financial literacy workshop in Yazoo City, or the caring adult who simply commits to showing up each week in Lexington. Together, they weave a safety net of support for our youth.
Answering the Call
This National Mentoring Month, the theme is clear: #MentorshipMatters. It matters for the child who needs a positive role model. It matters for the teen building their confidence. It matters for the health and future of our communities right here in the Delta.
You have the power to be that positive, consistent presence. You don’t need a special skill—just a willingness to listen, encourage, and believe in a young person.
Will you help us connect more youth with caring mentors?
Visit our Become a Mentor page to learn more and apply. You can make a direct impact at a Club near you:
Belzoni: Humphreys County Library System, 105 South Hayden Street
Cleveland: 725 South Dr. MLK Jr Drive
Clarksdale: George H Oliver School, 871 Ritchie Avenue
Jonestown: Timothy Burrel Building, 414 Second Street
Greenwood: 1740 Carrollton Avenue
Grenada: 357 South Line Street
MVSU Campus: 14000 Hwy 82 West, Itta Bena
Lexington: William Dean Jr Elementary School, 96 Rockport Road
Yazoo City: B.S. Ricks Memorial Library, 310 N. Main Street
This January, let’s celebrate the mentors who light the way and welcome new ones to join this vital mission. Together, we can ensure every young person in the Mississippi Delta has a champion in their corner.
