Talbot Mentors has a new film promoting its mentor recruitment efforts. Sponsored and produced by the Avalon Foundation, the short film highlights the importance of mentoring for young people in Talbot County.
The video may be viewed at https://tinyurl.com/TM-film. “We urge you to share this video with your friends and family to assist us in finding new mentors in our community,” said Talbot Mentors Executive Director Natalie Costanzo.
Sharyn Watts-Hall with her mentee Ashanti Stanley.
Costanzo hopes the film can be broadcast on local television stations to generate an even wider response. “We want to let potential volunteers know how important mentors are to our youth and how rewarding mentoring is,” she explained. “The film also is a celebration of how wonderful our mentors and mentees are.”
The project took almost four months to complete. More than 20 mentor/mentee pairs took part in producing the film. Talbot County Sheriff Joe Gamble, Talbot County Council President Corey Pack, and former Talbot Mentors Executive Director Nancy Andrew are among those shown encouraging mentoring.
Richard Marks and his mentee Zachary Gonzales
Kinya Handy, mother of a mentee, describes the Talbot Mentors experience from the family’s point of view. “They match you up perfectly with someone,” she said. “The organization has a very big heart. They’re in it for the family.”
“This isn’t about getting in there and fixing somebody,” says Andrew. “It’s about being steady over time.” As mentor Susan Piggott describes, “Mentoring is just magic… It’s the special attention that kids get from somebody that makes so much difference in their lives.”
Gamble adds, “The time I spend pouring myself into a young person gives me a greater reward than anything I could ever do in law enforcement.”
Mentees provide their own thoughts on the difference mentoring makes in their lives. One young man says, “I used to think everybody was against me, but I realize a lot of people were just trying to help.”
The relationships are mostly about friendship, with many of the youngsters describing their mentors as their best friends. “I don’t call her my mentee anymore,” says Piggott of Dre‘Ona Dawson, with whom she has been matched for six years. “I call her my friend.”
Costanzo thanked all who participated in the project. She offered special appreciation to volunteers Bill Brashares, Irene Schmidt and Meredith Watters for their help in the production, along with “a big thank you to Tim Weigand from the Avalon Foundation.”
Other foundations supporting Talbot Mentors’ recruitment efforts include the Morris and Alma Schapiro Fund and the Katra Fund.
Groups that would welcome a presentation may contact Costanzo at 410-770-5999 or email [email protected].
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