Knights of Clark County Gather Around

We sat in a circle sharing breakfast and stories, and no one was left unaffected. By the end of the hour, we had all realized, at a deeper level, just what we are a part of.Forty-five community volunteers currently serve children as mentors in the nationally recognized, award-winning, Clark County program - Great Life Mentoring. Over a thousand community members have been impacted by this program since its inception in 2000.Last weekend, a few of us gathered to celebrate the six mentors who hit their one-year mark this month. Each of those six people chose one child to mentor last September (2017), and they have faithfully served them every week since.We were also gathered to celebrate one mentor who was receiving an award for five years of mentoring and another for five years of service on the Board of Directors (plus nine years of mentoring). Each of those eight mentors had a unique story to tell.As we sat in the circle, someone mentioned that it felt like the Knights of the Round Table. They were right. These eight community volunteers, along with other mentors and staff who were gathered, hold an oath of confidentiality, uphold the rules given to them when they became mentors and are seen as trustworthy and equal.Within this sacred circle, we shared stories of empowerment, protection and impact. We shared tears, and we offered support for each other and the children we care for.Coming around the circle, one of the mentors recalled the phrase, “tikkun olam,” that he had shared with the Program Manager during his interview just over a year ago. This is his creed, and he shared it with all of us. The phrase, “tikkun olam,” is connected with the human responsibility for fixing what is wrong in the world.“We are chosen,” he told us, “The world is broken, and we bear the responsibility not only for our own moral, spiritual and material welfare, but also for society.”We agreed, the world is broken, and we are doing our part to help where we can. We have all determined to act in such a way that we can bring benefit and healing to others.In years to come, I believe we will hear tales from the children who received a Great Life mentor when they were young, and how that mentor helped them through life’s roughest times. They will tell about a person who came alongside them and treated them with dignity and respect; someone who they learned was worthy of trust and who helped them to believe in themselves.The children will tell their stories of hope, and the world will be a little less broken. We will watch for them to rise up and become mentors themselves, and we will know we made a difference.Please contact Great Life Mentoring now and become a volunteer mentor. We will fully train and support you and Great Life Mentoring will become your Camelot.

Pictured: Top photo - Jessica Chan-O'Donnell; Group photo, back row, left to right - Dan Soovajian, Heather Barnett, Alan Rothstein; Front row, left to right - Maggie Callery, Sheila Deng, Lori Horwitz.