Political Quotes

“Mr. Speaker, I rise in honor of National Mentoring Month and in recognition of the great contributions that mentors make to young people and to communities across the country. Every young person deserves and needs a mentor, someone with experience and perspective to help them overcome challenges and navigate uncertainties. I would not be here today without the guidance that I received from my mentors, including Supreme Court Justice and former Mayor Frank Flaherty, former Mayor Joe Walsh, the late State Senator Eleanor Slater, and the late Senator Claiborne Pell. Mentorships like these can be life-changing, and I applaud organizations like MENTOR Rhode Island, which pairs mentors with at- risk youth. Vulnerable young people with mentors are more likely to maintain better attendance and positive attitudes toward school, and they are 55 percent more likely to go to college than their peers. Mr. Speaker, it is with deep appreciation for my mentors and the power of mentoring that I recognize January as National Mentoring Month. ____________________”