Four CBM CARES® Program Managers will share their mentoring expertise with leaders in mentoring from around the country at the National Mentoring Summit in Arlington, Va. this month. Aaron Harris (CBM CARES® Prince George’s County, MD), La’Sondrick Bridges CBM CARES® Columbia, SC), Fred Wright (CBM CARES® Richmond, VA) and Martin Jackson (CBM CARES® Philadelphia, PA) will address conference attendees on Techniques on Engaging, Matching and Retaining African-American Male Mentors.

“As one of the leading African American organizations providing guidance, support and encouragement to black children and their families, it is imperative that we share our knowledge in the areas of mentor engagement, matching and retention, so that all the organizations impacting the African-American community have the most relevant techniques in their mentoring efforts,” said Jackson.

A similar session presented last year by CBM CARES® program managers was one of the most attended sessions of the summit, as many seek to understand some of the cultural factors that may lead to low populations of African-American male mentors.

“Because it is imperative that volunteers understand that mentoring is mutually beneficial. More specifically, how education, incarceration, and unemployment is interconnected with retaining African-American male mentors,” Bridges said.

“Far too often, African-American men stray away from interpersonal relationships such as mentoring, because they feel they may not have enough to offer, or that they may not be able to achieve success,” said Harris. “By sharing some of our techniques, we can help others engage, match and retain mentors; creating more lasting, meaningful, purposeful mentor/mentee relationships.”

The session will be live streamed Friday, January 31, 2014 at 9:15 a.m. You can access that session here.