MENTOR Statement on March For Our Lives
March 23, 2018
March 23, 2018
MENTOR strives to help create an America where all young people can thrive. By working with more than 2,000 mentoring programs around the country, we see the transformative power of quality mentoring when young people are supported, valued, and empowered. But young people can’t reach their full potential if they aren’t safe in school, at home, or anywhere else.
That’s why we stand with the young people taking action against gun violence. We believe in the power of youth speaking for themselves. We believe in the power of relationships to support them. We also believe in the power of relationships to increase critical consciousness, to reduce violence, and to prioritize student-centered supports and interventions in schools and across communities.
The tragedies and realities of gun violence are not new for so many young people and families who have organized in their communities for decades. This weekend’s March For Our Lives rallies in cities across the country are testaments to what is possible when youth lead. Our young people aren’t only the future; they’re the present. We celebrate their agency, activism, and engagement on the issues that affect their lives this weekend and every day. And we salute the mentors and mentoring programs who stand beside them on their journey and help find their voice, passion, and purpose.
For adults supporting and serving young people who are navigating violence and trauma, read MENTOR’s guide here.