Greenville Mentoring Collaborative Community Cookout

All are welcome to attend Greenville Mentoring Collaborative’s community cookout. We are recruiting men who have an open mind and willingness to engage in conversations about the unique challenges African American men and boys face to become mentors. Former NFL Football player and SC Football Hall of Fame Vice President, Levon Kirkland will participate in an informal fireside chat about the power of mentoring relationships along with Southside Christian School’s Two-time State Champion Football Coach Derrick Sullivan and former Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Upstate Executive Director, Lamont Sullivan.

The Greenville Mentoring Collaborative is a network of mentoring services providers and other stakeholders working together so that every youth in Greenville has the supportive relationships they need to develop into thriving adults.

Nationally, 1 in 3 young people are growing up without a mentor, someone outside of their family who they can turn to for support and guidance. Our research found that only 2.2% of Greenville County youth were in a formal mentoring relationship before the pandemic which is greatly below the national average of 8%.

Mentoring is an effective way to improve outcomes for students in need of support. Youth with mentors are more likely than their peers to graduate, continue their education after high school, participate in extracurricular activities and sports, gain employment and become an engaged citizen.