Assembly Resolution No. 807

BY: M. of A. Epstein

MEMORIALIZING Governor Kathy Hochul to proclaim
January 2024, 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 2024, 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 2024, 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.