Monika Kelly spoke to Rachel Pearl, Chief Program Officer of Friends of the Children about a unique professional mentorship program that matches a mentor with a child facing extraordinary barriers (poverty, foster care, parents incarcerated or homeless, etc.) starting in Kindergarten. The mentor stays with that child all the way through high school graduation. The mentor impacts the child's educational life, helps with goal setting, self-esteem and helps the young person avoid the criminal justice system, graduate high school, delay parenthood until after teen years, and in many cases, go on to get a four-year degree. Friends of the Children serves about 500 youth every year. The program has been replicated in 22 other cities and in one city in England.
Original airdate: 5/30/2021 KZRI KLVP
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Monika joined EMF in 2012 and covers signals in several U.S. states including major markets like Phoenix and Seattle.