CAMBRIDGE — Members of the Dorchester County Council proclaimed January as Mentoring Month. Reading from the proclamation, Council Member William Nichols (District 2) said, “We recognize the selfless individuals who devote their time, energy and expertise to ensure that future generations of Americans are better prepared to lead their communities.”

He said mentoring groups help young people transition into adulthood. Included in the groups are teachers, business owners and civic leaders.
“These mentors come from all walks of life and are united in their shared goals of improving the lives of America’s youth,” he said. “We are reminded of our responsibility to help foster environments so children and young adults can best develop their skills and embark on life’s journey with confidence and purpose.”

Accepting the proclamation was Erica Dennis of Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Eastern Shore. “Thank you so much for this proclamation, I really appreciate it,” she said. “You all know how important mentoring is to the community and to the future. We’ve been proud to serve this community since 1982, and we look forward to future partnerships with you all.”

“Our mission is to provide children facing adversity with enrichment and strong and enduring, professionally supported one-to-one relationships that change their lives for the better, forever,” the group’s website says. “Big Brothers Big Sisters makes meaningful, mentorship matches between volunteer ‘Bigs’ and children ‘Littles,’ ages 6-18. We then provide the necessary training, resources and support necessary for those matches to succeed.”

To learn more about Big Brothers Big Sisters, visit www.shorebiglittle.org.