Advocacy

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3rd Annual Youth Mentoring Legislative Day

June 17, 2025 | 9:00 AM - 3:00 PM

North Carolina General Assembly

Registration for the 3rd Annual Youth Mentoring Legislative Day will open on April 1, 2025.

Remarks from Congresswoman Valerie P. Foushee

Congresswoman Valerie Foushee remarks on the importance of investing in high-quality mentoring during the inaugural Youth Mentoring Legislative Day hosted by Youth Mentoring Collaborative.

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About the Youth Mentoring Legislative Day

The Youth Mentoring Legislative Day is a unique opportunity to convene legislators, youth-serving programs, and young people at the NC General Assembly to highlight and celebrate the power of mentoring relationships. Youth attendees speak directly with legislators to discuss the importance of mentoring and ways legislators can deepen their connections with local programs.

With a special thanks to Representative Zack Hawkins, Youth Mentoring Collaborative and community partners are advocating for legislation that does the following:

  • Establish an appropriation of one million five hundred dollars ($1,500,000) in recurring funds to be used to provide funding and technical assistance to small- to medium-sized mentoring initiatives located in North Carolina
  • Create the North Carolina Commission on Youth Mentoring, which will include at least fourteen (14) members from varying stakeholder groups, to oversee a formalized grant application process and to provide thought leadership to increase the general public’s knowledge of the need for mentoring

If passed, this bill will help North Carolina chart the path for intentionally cultivating and investing in a strong network of youth mentoring programs and initiatives that are doing their best work.

 

Frequently Asked Questions

The Youth Mentoring Legislative Day agenda-at-a-glance is as follows:

  • Breakfast, Music, and Games
  • Welcome and Introductions
  • Group Activities to Prepare for Meetings with Legislators
  • Walk to NC General Assembly
  • Tour of the NC General Assembly
  • Lunch at the NC General Assembly / Legislative Meetings

YMC will schedule all legislative meetings for participants. We will also provide updates, including reminders, resources, and other important information leading to the event. There is no cost to participate.

There are several ways you can get involved in taking action to sustain the youth mentoring movement in the Carolinas and beyond:

  • Contact Your Representatives. YMC encourages program partners, stakeholders, and those who are passionate about youth mentoring to contact their local legislators directly to advocate for the mentoring field. Contact information for the NC and SC General Assembly can be found below.
  • Submit a Proclamation. Proclamations, or official designations, are a way to put something "on file" or "on record" that an elected official or body of officials are committed to a cause. Organizations can leverage proclamations as a way to educate the public about a specific issue or bring attention to a cause. YMC recommends the following steps:
    • Contact your state or local government office. Decide where you would like to submit a proclamation - either to your city, county, or state government - and head to their website. Look for "Ceremonial" or "Forms" on the website, or go to the "Contact Us" page and draft a message.
    • Draft your proclamation. We have supplied a National Mentoring Month draft proclamation here, though you are welcome to design your own depending on what cause you are supporting.
    • Submit your proclamation with enough time in advance. Generally, we recommend submitting a proclamation two to three weeks in advance of the proposed proclamation meeting or signing event. If you don't have an event at which you will present a proclamation, look up the legislative body's meeting calendar and propose a date on which they will already meet.

Advocacy Resources

  • Save the Children's in-depth "Advocacy Toolkit" is an excellent resource for understanding advocacy, effective planning, goal setting, and follow-through.
  • Bolder Advocacy's "Public Charities Can Lobby" is a framework for nonprofit and philanthropic organizations to lobby.
  • Prosperity Now's "Advocacy Toolkit" speaks broadly to advocacy, including the types of advocacy, lobbying at the Federal and State levels, and how to communicate for change.
  • NC Child's "Six Tips for Legislative Advocates for Children in North Carolina" outlines how to understand the General Assembly and take action.
  • Plan International's "The Education We Want: An Advocacy Toolkit" was developed for young people by young people. It was produced in partnership with A World at School and the Youth Advocacy Group of the Global Education First Initiative.
I learned a long time ago the wisest thing I can do is be on my own side, be an advocate for myself and others like me.
— Maya Angelou

Support Our Mission

Donate to Youth Mentoring Collaborative to support our mission to advance policy that supports youth mentoring initiatives in North and South Carolina and beyond.

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