I feel like other men need to step up to the plate and be an influence like Robert has been in my life. Summers was one of nine people who spoke yesterday about the importance of mentoring. The public event in Hemming Plaza was designed to launch the Jacksonville division of Gov. Jeb Bush's Mentoring Initiative, a program created to pair children with mentors across Florida. Mentoring is different from volunteering at a school or a community center. Bush is traveling throughout the state to encourage government agencies and businesses to allow their employees to spend one hour a week mentoring a child.
Research shows that mentoring has a positive effect on children.
Spearheading the Jacksonville effort is the Kesler Mentoring Connection, which has already trained about 1,000 mentors. The city's goal is to have 2,000 mentors in 2000, said Delores Kesler, founder of the mentoring connection. Duval County schools Superintendent John Fryer said the school system has identified about 14,000 students who could benefit from having a mentor. Bush launches program to pair kids with mentors. 15 Jan. 2000.