Changing society one youth at a time is Gov. Jennifer Granholm's philosophy when it comes to youth mentorship — a philosophy her staff has also adopted.
Grand River Elementary Magnet School in Lansing benefits directly from Granholm's office since 25 of her employees are involved in the Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Lansing mentor program at the school.
The agency is a youth mentor service that matches a child with an adult in order for him or her to spend time with a positive role model.
Joni Burch, case manager at Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Lansing, has worked with Granholm and her staff.
"Her 'little sister' absolutely loves hanging out with her; they do a lot of art projects together," Burch said and added that Granholm's entire family is involved with the program.
"She adores her," said Lansing resident Cynthia Mares, the mother of the 10-year-old child Granholm mentors, whose name is also Cynthia. "She thinks it's hilarious when they go places and people recognize her," she said.
Granholm, with her husband Daniel Mulhern, began pushing for a mentorship program in Michigan during her time as attorney general, said Joan Bowman, special project manager for Mulhern.
After Granholm was elected governor, Mulhern decided to take the initiative to develop the mentor program, Bowman said.
He started Mentor Michigan and currently serves as the chairman.
"If we were going to encourage people to mentor, we have to start with ourselves," said Bowman, who also coordinates the Lunch Buddies program, also through Big Brothers Big Sisters, for the Granholm administration.
For the Lunch Buddies program, an adult mentor goes to a school once a week to eat lunch with a child he or she mentors.
"I think I have gotten more out of it than he has," Bowman said of the boy she mentors.
Lindsay Huddleston, a law clerk in the office of legal council to Granholm, got involved in mentoring through the Lunch Buddies program.
"Like me, many people would think that their schedule would not permit it, but you would be surprised that once you make the connection with the young person, you would do any-and-everything to stay committed to them," he said.
Huddleston said the leadership of Granholm, and especially Mulhern, influenced him.
Huddleston has as many as five boys seek him out each week when he comes to eat lunch.
"The young men were available, and they really gravitated to me. I think it was my firm love — love with a little discipline," Huddleston said. "It's been really enriching."
In the Greater Lansing area, 526 people are involved in the program, about 150 of which are MSU students, according to Big Brothers Big Sisters records.
Yet, a pressing need still exists for adults in the area to get involved, especially men, Bowman said.
For more information on the Big Brothers Big Sisters program, or to become a volunteer mentor, visit http://www.bigimpactmidmi.com.
