Mentoring ToDAY Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Penelope Spain will testify before the District of Columbia City Council on June 25, 2008 at 10:00 am in support of the "Office for Youth Mentoring Establishment Act of 2008" and the "Youth Mentoring Recruitment Incentive Admendment Act of 2008." The bills, will develop a new DC government office to support youth mentoring and offer a $2000 tax credit to mentors. Ms Spain will testify before the Council's Committee on Human Services chaired by Councilmember Tommy Wells at 1350 Pennsylvania Ave. in Room 412.
Ms. Spain and Co-founder Whitney Louchheim founded Mentoring ToDAY in February 2005 as law students at American University's Washington School of Law. Mentoring ToDAY serves youth who are returning from incarceration at the Oak Hill Youth Center and reintegrating into the DC community. Mentoring ToDAY provides the youth with dedicated mentoring and advocacy services as they strive to establish safe and fulfilling lives.
"DC needs to provide the financial backing to encourage residents to volunteer. At Mentoring ToDAY, we have repeatedly debated whether or not we should pay our mentors'" Spain says.
Mentoring ToDAY will be recruiting mentors at the Capital Hip Hop Soul Fest on July 26, 2008 at Marvin Gaye Park. The Capital Hip Hop Soul Fest, developed by Liberated Muse Productions, is a project developed to link young adults to small businesses, local music and local volunteer opportunities.
"We wanted to bring young adults together to hear great music while learning of all the different ways to be involved in community service" says Liberated Muse Productions co-founder, Khadijah Ali-Coleman. Twenty local artists will perform on two stages from 11 am to 8 pm while concert goers discover options for community participation.
To receive a complete transcript of Ms.Spain's testimony or to learn how to be a Mentoring ToDAY mentor please email info@mentoringtoday.org.
