BOSTON — On March 11, 2025, more than 240 individuals, including youth and adults from mentoring programs across the state, gathered at the Massachusetts Statehouse for the 19th Annual Youth Mentoring Day hosted by Mass Mentoring Partnership (MMP). The event brought together passionate advocates from mentoring programs who sought to engage with lawmakers and push for continued support for the vital work of mentoring throughout Massachusetts.
The event featured remarks from several leaders, including Cynthia K. Orellana, Ph.D., President and CEO of Mass Mentoring Partnership, who spoke passionately about the importance of continued investment in youth mentoring. State Senator Pavel Payano, Senator Brendan Crighton, Representative Carlos González, and Representative Sean Reid also addressed the crowd, each sharing their commitment to advocating for increased support for mentoring programs and underscoring the significant role these programs play in strengthening communities across Massachusetts.
The highlight of the event was the call for the legislature’s support of the Mentoring Matching Grant Line Item, a key funding mechanism that helps support over 48 programs, equating to more than 43,000 young people in programs across the commonwealth. Attendees engaged in thoughtful discussion during the program on an activity focusing on the theme of Building the Mentoring Movement: A Strategy for Today and a Better Tomorrow. They also met with their legislators, emphasizing the transformative impact of mentoring on young lives.
“Massachusetts needs a connected and robust mentoring ecosystem to ensure that young people have the relationships they need to thrive and reach their full potential,” shared Cynthia K. Orellana, P.h.D., President and CEO of Mass Mentoring Partnership. “These relationships can provide a bridge to opportunity, helping young people see and access paths they might not have otherwise been able to. Now is not the time to back away from our commitment to young people! Now is the time to recommit and double down!”
“To come together today to raise our voices to fight for a collective goal of all of ours, it really highlights how important mentorship is not just for us individually but for the Commonwealth as a whole,” commented Senator Brendan Crighton (Democrat, Third Essex). “Tell your story, let your legislators or their staff know how [mentoring] has affected you and I think that’s really going to help us continue to move this forward.”
The Mentoring Matching Grant Line Item is critical to ensuring that mentoring programs are able to continue providing support, in their varied capacities to youth across the state. “MMP is seeking $1.8 million for FY26 to support the Mentoring Matching Grants (MMG) line-item, which is the only state line-item dedicated solely to mentoring programs,” emphasized Orellana.
In FY25, MMP faced a 17 percent cut to the Mentoring Matching Grants line-item due to a gubernatorial veto. This cut has had a substantial impact on smaller nonprofits that rely on this funding to support their mentoring programs. As a result, many programs are struggling with mentorship waitlists, staffing challenges, and other barriers that limit their ability to serve the youth who need mentoring the most.
In addition to the line item being restored to $1.8 million for FY26, the request is being made that $300,000 be allocated via supplemental funding to plug the hole left by the gubernatorial veto. This funding will help address the immediate needs of mentoring programs across the state, particularly in light of the lost funds from veto in FY25. The supplemental funding will allow programs to manage their current challenges and reduce the impact of waitlists and staff shortages, ensuring that more youth can be paired with mentors sooner.
The event was well-supported by a broad array of legislative leaders, who were in attendance to show their commitment to supporting youth mentoring initiatives. Attending legislators included: Senator Brendan Crighton; Representative Carlos González; Senator Pavel Payano; Representative Sean Reid; Representative Paul Donato; Representative Amy Sangiolo; Representative Michelle Badger; Representative Steven Ouellette; Representative Justin Thurber; Representative Rob Consalvo; Representative Tara Hong and Representative Thomas Moakley.
As Youth Mentoring Day 2025 came to a close, advocates left with a renewed sense of hope, determined to continue their work in building stronger connections between youth and the adults who can guide them to success. The 19th Annual Youth Mentoring Day stands as a testament to the power of collaboration between mentoring programs, the legislative community, and the dedicated individuals who support the growth and success of Massachusetts’ young people.
To learn more about Mass Mentoring Partnership, visit their website at https://www.massmentors.org. For more information on Youth Mentoring Day, please visit https://www.massmentors.org/youth-mentoring-day.