OP-ED
VIRTUAL MENTORING CAN PROVIDE CRITICAL
SUPPORT TO NYC’S STUDENTS OF COLOR
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TIMESLEDGER | QNS.COM | JULY 3-JULY 9, 2020 15
BY AARON BARNETTE
The COVID-19 pandemic and
the long-overdue outcry against
police brutality have disrupted
the lives of New York City’s children
and are rapidly turning
existing issues of inequity into
dire crises.
Students of color are the
most likely to fall through the
cracks. Boys of color in particular
have been systematically
under-served in terms of their
emotional wellbeing. For many,
school provides a needed source
of stability and community, but
now learning virtually and facing
a summer with few options
to keep them engaged, they are
without their support networks,
leaving them disconnected and
potentially unable to process
these stressors.
We must find a way to keep
our boys engaged through their
school communities.
It is crucially important
for our schools to invest in virtual
mentoring programs for
all New York City students. By
connecting students with one
another and trained staff, virtual
group mentoring sessions
are an effective way to ensure
that every child is socially and
emotionally supported.
Group mentoring sessions
provide space for students to
connect over their shared experiences
and work together
to find solutions to issues they
face. They can also offer an
opportunity to introduce students
to topics that are crucial
to their development outside of
school.
At the Eagle Academy Foundation
schools, a network of public
schools focused on educating
boys of color across the five
boroughs of New York City and
Newark, NJ, our students and
staff have shown us the value
of school-wide virtual support
networks. Students who are
engaged in these programs are
afforded another level of support
that ensures they are continuing
to learn and on track to
reach important emotional and
educational milestones.
With many summer programs
now shut down and
parents returning to work, the
need to conduct regular virtual
mentoring sessions is becoming
even more apparent. As
the summer already poses an
increased risk of learning loss
for students of color, this will
be a crucial period in which we
can either step up and support
our students or allow an entire
generation of vulnerable youth
to fall behind.
The DOE and Mayor de Blasio
must make a commitment
to support our students by making
mentoring and counseling
available to all New York City
students. Partners in the public
and private sectors must be
leveraged to provide mentoring
opportunities.
We must rise to this challenge
and create lasting models
that can help us better engage
all students — especially those
that have been historically
marginalized. By taking these
vital steps now, we will establish
a needed tool to assist our
students during this time. Only
by providing this emotional
support can we stem a looming
crisis in the life outcomes of our
young men and set them up for
better futures.
Aaron Barnette is the director
of strategic partnerships and
mentoring for the Eagle Schools
network.
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