Vermont Business Magazine MENTOR Vermont, in partnership with youth mentoring programs, youth mentees, volunteer mentors, legislators, and business supporters, encourages all Vermonters to join us in celebrating National Mentoring Month this January, and the theme of Belonging, and to consider becoming a mentor in your community this year.
Belonging is the foundation of connection. When young people feel seen, heard, and valued, they are more likely to engage in school, build confidence, and take positive risks that help them grow. At a time of widespread isolation and division, focusing on belonging reframes mentoring as a solution that builds empathy and stronger communities.
“Vermont is stronger when we can work together to support our young people and create Relationship Centered Communities. Communities where young Vermonters feel and know that they matter,” said Chad Butt, Executive Director of MENTOR Vermont. “Mentoring meets youth where they live, learn, work, and play, providing them with a consistent person outside of their family that they can turn to for support.”
Based on the 2025 Vermont Mentoring Surveys, 96.1% of mentored youth expressed “that their mentor makes them feel like they matter” and 96.3% said “that having a mentor has made a positive difference in their life.” Additionally, 96.4% of mentors “would recommend mentoring to a friend, family member, or peer.”
During the month of January, MENTOR Vermont will be hosting an advocacy day at the Vermont State House to officially proclaim January as Mentoring Month in Vermont and communicate with legislators the importance and benefits of mentoring. Additionally, MENTOR Vermont will be partnering with local youth mentoring programs to nominate mentoring pairs from across the state to become 2026 Ambassadors of Mentoring. These mentoring matches will help promote mentoring in their communities and across the state throughout the year.
MENTOR Vermont will also host several virtual coffee hours with mentoring professionals to provide some training and support to those in the field. At the end of the month, staff from MENTOR Vermont and two mentoring professionals will attend the National Mentoring Summit in DC.
Learn more about MENTOR Vermont and how to become a mentor in your community at mentorvt.org. MENTOR Vermont’s 2026 Vermont Mentoring Month campaign was made possible through the continued support of Ambassadors of Mentoring from Comcast and other generous business sponsors. To learn more about the National Mentoring Month and supporting sponsors, please visit mentorvt.org/national-mentoring-month.
About MENTOR Vermont: MENTOR Vermont leads, expands, and strengthens the mentoring movement, building capacity to make high-quality relationships accessible to all young people. To achieve this mission, MENTOR Vermont provides funding, resources, and support to the youth mentoring field in Vermont to strengthen the quality and broaden the reach of mentoring relationships throughout the state. MENTOR Vermont collaborates with community partners to encourage adults to adopt a Mentoring Mindset in their relationships and interactions with young people, creating Relationship Centered Communities. In addition to promoting National Mentoring Month in Vermont, the organization manages the Vermont Mentoring Grants, hosts the annual Vermont Mentoring Symposium, provides technical support to mentoring program staff, and raises public awareness of mentoring. MENTOR Vermont is the state affiliate of MENTOR. For more information about mentoring programs and initiatives in Vermont, visit www.mentorvt.org.
Burlington, VT—MENTOR Vermont
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