• Why Mentor?
  
• Mentoring & City Employees
  
• How Can I Become a Mentor in a St. Petersburg Public School?
  
• Other Mayor’s Mentors and More Endorsed Programs
  
  4-H Afterschool
  5000 Role Models of Excellence
  Big Brothers Big Sisters
  EYA Hi Five Pinellas
  Junior Achievement
  St. Pete Reads
• Recognition of Mayor Baker’s Commitment to Mentoring
  

Why Mentor?
Mentoring is an extremely effective way to positively affect the city’s youth. According the National Mentoring Partnership, mentored teens are:

• 73% more likely to raise their goals as a result of the relationship
  
• 59% more likely to get better grades
  
• 46% less likely to get involved with drugs.
  

These figures are supported by statistics from Big Brothers Big Sisters , which goes on to report that mentored students are:

• 27% less likely to begin using alcohol
  
• 37% less like to skip a class
  
• 56% report improved relationships with their peers
  
• 64% developed higher levels of self-confidence
  
• 33% were less likely to hit someone
• Better able to get along with their family members
  

Kathy Bara, Legal Secretary
City of St Petersburg

As part of his commitment to education, Mayor Baker has encouraged city personnel to mentor in our city’s schools. Mayor Baker established an Administrative Policy which allows any city employee to have paid leave of up to an hour with 15 minutes of travel before and after to mentor in the schools each week. The mayor has also issued a “Cabinet Challenge” to his cabinet members, holding monthly contests aimed at increasing city employees mentoring in our schools. Currently, more than 160 city employees volunteer in our schools.

How Can I Become a Mentor in a St. Petersburg Public School?
To become a mentor in a St. Petersburg public school, you must:

• Be a registered volunteer with the school district
• Attend a mentor training class – click here for a list of upcoming training sessions
• Pass a background check
  
• Commit to one hour per week during the school year
  
• Mentoring activities are limited to school grounds or school sponsored activities
  

Once you have attended mentor training, you can contact the Community Involvement Assistant (CIA) at the school of your choice to be paired with a child to mentor. Click here for a list of the CIAs in St. Petersburg schools.

Other Mayor's Mentors and More Endorsed Programs
If you can't become a mentor, Mayor Baker reminds you that the opportunities for involvement are ample and varied, both in terms of time commitment and time of day. Programs supported by the Mayor's Mentors and More Program include:

• 4-H Afterschool
• 500 Role Models of Excellence
• Big Brothers Big Sisters
• EYA Hi Five Pinellas
• Junior Achievement
• St. Pete Reads

St. Pete Reads
As part of St. Pete Reads, city employees tutor students in reading after school at city recreation centers. All tutors must attend Training for Reading Tutors prior to tutoring. Training for Reading Tutors is also open to all persons interested in volunteering in Pinellas Elementary Schools.

• St. Pete Reads Training Dates
  
• St. Pete Reads Application

5000 Role Models of Excellence
5000 Role Models of Excellence was created to boost the self-image, social skills and academic performance of selected males, in part, by motivating them to interact with respected and successful men from the community. This program matches young men who are struggling in school with mentors who will meet with them on a regular basis. Statistic show that boys who have mentors are:

• 52% less likely to skip school.
• 46% less likely to start using drugs.
• 33% less likely to hit someone.

All students, especially African American males, desperately need positive role models to relate to and to emulate. It is a fact that many young black males are harmed by drugs, AIDS, promiscuity, the prison system and black-on-black crime.

The 5000 Role Models of Excellence Program is a vital part of many schools throughout the county. The mentors work closely with school staff in striving for all African American males to achieve on or above grade level. Academic success appears to be a direct result of students who have changed their negative behaviors into positive actions.

Any parent/guardian interested in more information call Soloman Stephens at (727) 588-6198.

Big Brothers Big Sisters
Big Brothers Big Sisters (BBBS) has been identified as the premier mentoring program in the United States. Big Brothers Big Sisters of Pinellas County, Inc. has as its primary mission serving children in the community through one-on-one mentoring relationships with quality volunteers. The agency is a fully accredited affiliate of Big Brothers Big Sisters of America. Affiliates are required to meet standards set by the national organization. Please see the BBBS website for more information.

Eckerd's Youth Alternatives: Hi-Five Pinellas
EYA is a not-for-profit organization nationally recognized for its programs to help youth. The City of St Petersburg has partnered with EYA to benefit from EYA's expertise in early intervention and prevention curriculum for youth. Hi-Five Pinellas is a customized program for elementary schools to teach youth how to deal with peer pressure and make correct choices.

Mentoring is a particularly valuable component of Hi-Five Pinellas. After excellent mentor training and a stringent background check, mentors can see their child at school, out in the community, or at one of the many organized fun activities sponsored by EYA Hi-Five Pnellas.

Unlike traditional intervention programs that target troubled teenagers enrolled in alternative education programs, EYA aims to help a wide cross-section of 4th and 5th graders in traditional school settings. This allows for a wider range of services to be rendered to students and families and develops productive and resilient young people.

Some of the services EYA provides through Hi-Five Pinellas are:

• Classroom Instruction on anger management, conflict resolution curriculum, empathy training, appreciating diversity, and mediation.
  
• Mentors for after-school and weekend activities to provide positive role modeling
  
• Parent education and training to improve family communication skills
  
• Conflict resolution training for teachers provided during in-service training days.
  
• Ropes course activities to increase self-esteem, team building, and family unification.

Currently Hi-Five Pinellas has been implemented at four St. Petersburg schools:

• 74TH Street Elementary
  
• Clearview Elementary
  
• James Sanderlin Elementary
  
• Lakewood Elementary

For more information please visit www.EYA.org or email cchance@eckerd.org.

Junior Achievement
Junior Achievement uses hands-on experiences to help young people understand the economics of life. In partnership with business and educators, Junior Achievement brings the real world to students, opening their minds to their potential.

Recognition of Mayor Baker's Commitment to Mentoring
Mayor Baker's commitment to mentoring was acknowledged by Florida Governor Jeb Bush in 2002 when he named Mayor Baker the chairman of the newly formed Municipal Mentoring Initiative. Mayor Baker says, "The initiative is a very vital program and helps ensure a great city by looking to the future of our state and helping our greatest asset—our children."

On January 12, 2004, Governor Bush recognized St. Petersburg and eight other Florida cities for their leadership in establishing mentoring programs in their cities and encouraged other local officials to establish similar programs. Mayor Baker was presented with the coveted "Municipal Mentoring Achievement Award" during the kickoff of the Governor's Municipal Mentoring Symposium, held in St. Petersburg. Please see the Florida League of Cities website for the complete press release