Michigan 4-H Youth Mentoring Pair Recognized by White House
 l. to r.: Suzanne Le Menestrel, Laura Schleede, Lisa Bottomley, Ryan Brott, Andrew Knight, Dawn Brott. |
When Ryan Brott and Andrew Knight met last year through the Journey 4-H Youth mentoring program, neither was sure where their partnership would take them.
Of all the things they planned to do together, attending a White House session on mentoring was certainly not on the list. But that’s just where they found themselves on Wednesday; in the East Room, on stage, two rows behind the President of the United States.
“A year ago, we didn’t even know each other,” said Andrew Knight, mentor to Ryan. “Today, we were sitting on stage with the president, being honored for our partnership.”
Knight and Ryan attended the service as success stories of the Journey 4-H Youth Mentoring program, a one-on-one, community-based mentoring program on Ottawa County, Mich. Part of the larger Michigan 4-H Youth Mentoring program, it helps deter youth from delinquency in the state’s juvenile justice system.
“They were chosen because they possessed the spirit of what Journey 4-H Youth matches are,” said Lisa Bottomley, Ottawa County MSU Extension Specialist.
 In the East Room of the White House, Pres. Obama addresses the importance of mentoring in the lives of youth. |
Knight, a criminal justice major, was interested in volunteering in a field related to his studies, and felt he had something to offer youth who may just need guidance in better decision making.
“I thought my experiences would help me help someone else,” Knight said. “I saw some great potential in Ryan.”
So, Knight and Ryan were a match, and they were able toparticipate in a number of activities through the program, including sporting events, fishing and even a camping challenge.
“We had weeks of preparation for this race, where we had to complete things like shelter making, canoeing and fire building” on a course, and navigate to each task by using only a map and a compass. Knight noted that Brott is a fan of outdoor activities, and this event and others like it were perfect for the two to bond.
Just a year ago, Ryan Brott was a young teenager who was not interested in school work or doing any chores, says his mother, Dawn Brott.
“He needed the male role model, and it has made all the difference,” said Brott.
The Brotts were joined in Washington, D.C., by Knight, Bottomley, Laura Schleede, program coordinator for Journey 4-H Youth, and Suzanne Le Menestrel, acting director of Youth Development, 4-H National Headquarters.
 Ryan Brott shakes the hand of Pres. Barack Obama |
In the hours before the trip to the White House, Ryan was nervous, said his mother. He didn’t sleep until 3 a.m. the night before, and his stomach was a bit upset. But once they arrived to the East Room, Ryan and Knight were surrounded by other mentors and mentees – many who achieved the same success they experienced— he appeared a little more comfortable.
“Here’s the thing people need to understand,” said President Barack Obama during the session. “It doesn’t take much to make a big difference. A couple of hours a week shooting hoops, helping with homework, talking about what’s going on in their lives can make a big, lasting impact in the life of a young person.”
Thanks to the Journey 4-H Youth mentoring program and Andrew Knight, Ryan is making positive changes in his life. In this trip alone, Ryan has crossed off four things on his life’s To-Do List, said Lisa Bottomley.
Ryan is now looking forward to a career in the Secret Service.
To view the video of the White House event, click here http://www.whitehouse.gov/photos-and-video/video/celebrating-national-mentoring-month
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With the generous support of the JCPenney Afterschool Fund, youth got much more than just help with homework at Connecticut 4-H Afterschool, a 4-H Afterschool program that is part of the University of Connecticut Cooperative Extension.
