At an October 2 training session for new mentors, Susan L. Taylor, founder and CEO of the National CARES Mentoring Movement, warmly welcomed our new volunteers during an online video session. About a dozen new mentors, both men and women, attended the training. They will be supporting The Rising programs at Denny International and Meany middle schools, which launch later this month.
Sponsored by King County Best Starts for Kids, The Rising has enrolled 80 scholars in the program this year – up from the earlier cohort of 40 students. Its three-year cohort model focuses on enhancing self-esteem, critical-thinking skills and cultural pride among middle-school student scholars.
Susan L. Taylor founded the National CARES Mentoring Movement in 2006 in response to the devastation that occurred after Hurricane Katrina. Since that time, the organization has become a recognized leader in recruiting, training and engaging Black mentors to support youth. Through its nationwide affiliate program, National CARES is now active in 58 U.S. cities; Seattle CARES is one of the largest and most active affiliate programs.