The idea was presented to employees during an informative lunch on Thursday, March 26 which featured Director Ismael Ahmed voicing his support for the effort.

"What does mentoring do for you?" asked DHS Director Ahmed.  "It makes you a better human being, it is a transfer of humanity, and I can't begin to tell you how big of a gift it is to you and a youth."

Several state employees were on hand to share their personal stories about mentoring, including DHS' Director of Legal Affairs Luttrell Levingston who has mentored a Detroit-area youth since 2003; Department of Energy, Labor & Economic Growth employee Bethann Courtney and her former mentor, Beverly Matulis, who were engaged in a mentoring relationship over 30 years ago; and Department of Agriculture employee Jeff Haarer who helps facilitate matches for his colleagues and has a mentee of his own.

Department of Environmental Quality, Natural Resources, and Agriculture employees are matched with nearly 40 students at Wexford Elementary in Lansing.  The successes of their 2007-2008 volunteer efforts were well documented as 77 percent of Wexford's teachers reported increased self-confidence in students matched with mentors while more than 50 percent indicated improved academic performance in two or more subjects when students were matched with a mentor.   

DHS employees interested in mentoring will be matched with youth at Riddle or Bingham Elementary schools in Lansing.  For more information, call Big Brothers Big Sisters Michigan Capital Region at (517) 372-0160.