It Takes A Community — Lewisville ISD Schools Benefiting From Community Mentors

As a Community Pastor and Neighborhood Advocate I’ve often dreamed of what it would be like if in every community, if every church and place of worship, was connected with every school, for the benefit of every single child. 

What if we left our places of worship on Sundays and entered into the doors of our local schools on Monday through Friday?

Now four years into one of Loving Community’s eight neighborhood initiatives, partnering with local schools to provide mentors, the 2018-19 school year has brought together a growing collaboration of caring adults and high school students from churches, businesses, non-profits, city government, and education — all creating a team of wonderful mentors!

Now each week on five campuses in the Lewisville ISD Central Zone (Rockbrook Elementary, Creekside Elementary, Durham Middle School, LHS – Harmon Campus and LHS – Main Campus) students are paired with a mentor to improve their reading/academic skills, and build character and leadership. The cadre of mentoring programs include Boys2Men, Grow Girls Groups, Loving Reading, Men of Distinction and Operation Success. 

These collaborative mentoring efforts between schools and the community are led by LISD faculty/staff and leaders from the community. They are staffed by community volunteers and a large contingent of Student Council (Farmer Friends) and National Honor Society students from Lewisville High School. These initiatives provide opportunities to give back to the community, especially in light of this year’s districtwide “Be Kind” initiative. 

Every volunteer and mentor (about 250 of them) is a gift to a student by their mere presence. Just by showing up and investing time carries the “good news” message that loving kids is of great value! 

As a Pastor I am especially grateful for the eleven churches and faith communities working together — seeking the good of the community.  (Jeremiah 29:7)

Churches represented in either leading or volunteering include Grace Community Assembly of God, New Life Fellowship, One Community Church, Riverside Church of Christ, The Door Church, The Village Church, Valley Creek Church, Valley Ranch Baptist Church, Vista Ridge United Methodist Church, Victorious Life Church and Westside Baptist Church.

We are thankful for a growing contingent of community mentors  who are believing and practicing that we are truly better together! Additionally, we are grateful for our school partners (too many to name) each championing the words of Dr. Kevin Rogers, LISD Superintendent of Schools, and kid’s mentor who says, “There is no doubt that you can make a difference in a child’s life! The impact an adult can have is immeasurable. You’ll also find out that you’ll benefit as much or more from the mentorship.”

More information about being a mentor is located at https://loving-community.net/volunteer-central/ or you can contact Bruce Quill, Volunteer Specialist at bquill@loving-community.net or Jim Mustain, Executive Director at jmustain@loving-community.net

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