January marks National Mentoring Month, an annual initiative aimed at expanding support for young people through mentorship. The campaign — led by the nonprofit MENTOR and partner organizations nationwide — encourages adults to step forward as role models, particularly in underserved communities.
In South Florida, programs like Big Brothers Big Sisters of Broward County are actively seeking Black mentors to pair with local Black youth. With more than 140 children currently waiting for mentors, organizers emphasize the value of representation in guiding academic confidence, personal growth, and future success.
Local mentoring efforts also include long-standing initiatives such as the 5000 Role Models of Excellence Project, which has operated in Miami for decades and continues to support boys’ academic and social development through sustained mentorship and community engagement.
In 2025, the 5000 Role Models of Excellence Project honored 45 Miami-Dade high school seniors with college scholarships, sending them off with words of encouragement from House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, the first Black leader of any party in Congress.
Founder Rep. Frederica Wilson was present and emphasized the importance of building up young Black men.
Scholars donned the program’s signature red ties and black blazers, received commemorative medallions, and delivered affirmations like Tyreek Bryant’s “The only BMW we need is a Bold Mind Working,” embodying Wilson’s decades-long mission to guide Miami-Dade’s young men toward educational and personal success.
“It’s a magical tie,” Rep. Wilson said The Miami Times. “When you put that tie on them and that long-sleeve white shirt, and they look up, and they see a man with that same tie, it’s like they change.”
Only 79% of Black male students graduate high school on time, compared with 89% of White male students, according to the National Center of Education Statistics.
Therefore, mentorship is crucial, as research shows it can help Black boys navigate systemic challenges and reduce the likelihood of falling into the statistical pitfalls seen in education and life outcomes.
This January, advocates are urging community members to volunteer, donate, or simply begin conversations about mentorship so that more young people — especially Black boys and teens — gain access to trusted adults who can help them navigate school, career planning, and life challenges.
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