WHEREAS, National Mentoring Month brings awareness to the importance of quality mentoring that promotes healthy relationships and communication, positive self-esteem, emotional well-being, and growth of a young person and their relationships with other adults; and

WHEREAS, the Town of Hillsborough honors volunteer mentors who support young people in Hillsborough by showing up for them every day and demonstrating their commitment to helping them thrive; and

WHEREAS, mentoring programs like Fathers on the Move, Beyond Expectations, and capacity-building agencies like Youth Mentoring Collaborative make our communities and our state stronger by driving impactful relationships that increase social capital for young people and provide invaluable support networks; and

WHEREAS, Grow Your World is a youth-centered, community-building organization that partners with local college students to work directly with youth and connect community members through multigenerational and inclusive relationships that build enrichment opportunities for youth and adults alike; and

WHEREAS, Reintegration Support Network provides support and resources for adolescents experiencing challenges related to substance use, mental health, and/or justice involvement. Mentors engage in promoting trust and self-acceptance by advocating for and with participants, coordinating with existing service providers, and linking participants with community resources, thereby increasing a participant’s overall wellbeing; and

WHEREAS, Healing-Centered Mentoring™ provides a pathway to promote mental wellness, increase access to evidence-based mental wellness skills training, and reduce structural barriers to mental health services; and

WHEREAS, mentoring plays a pivotal role in career exploration and supports workforce development by helping young people set career goals, equipping mentors with the skills needed to support the professional growth of young people, and driving positive outcomes for communities across the state;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, Mark Bell, mayor of the Town of Hillsborough, do hereby proclaim January 2026 as National Mentoring Month in the Town of Hillsborough.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and caused this seal of the Town of Hillsborough to be affixed this 8th day of December in the year 2025.

Mark Bell, Mayor