"The Kindness of Strangers...."

Almost done with a book by Marc Freedman. Insightful, well thought out and researched, this book discusses the history and birth of mentorship, its relationships and value, and real-life mentoring experiences. I highly recommend "The Kindness of Strangers: Adult Mentors, Urban Youth, and the New Volunteerism". From about 1989 to 1993 I was foster parent to teen girls who had been sexually abused and to teen boys who were aging out of the foster system, but were not wanted at home. At a foster parent conference, a co-worker of Marion Edelman-Wright spoke and used an example that remains imbedded in my values:

Picture an island of children, of all varieties and ages. It's an island of only children, no adults or adult influence. Some 50 or 100 yards away is another island - of adults. In nature's way, each child will one day, in his/her own time, feel an innate desire to move to the adult island. However, the islands are separated by roiled waters, great depths, and unknown challenges. Some of the children have made it to the adult island on their own, worn, but safe. Others are afraid to even set out into the water. Others try, but make it only partway, some not surviving, some turning back, perhaps to try again, perhaps not. The children can all use in one way or another, the help of an adult - meeting halfway, perhaps meeting a child right on the water's edge of the child's island. Some children just need an outstretched hand to claim the imposing beach of the adult island. The children need us to meet them where they are...and we are the only ones who can help them.

This book takes me back to that conference. It's a reminder I appreciate and would like to pass on.