At Project Friendship we envision a community where kids grow up with people in their lives that encourage them, support them, and make them feel heard. We know that during the fundamental years when kids are growing and exploring is when they are building their confidence and character to carry them into adulthood. Statistics show that youth who have mentors are 52% less likely than their peers to skip a day of school and 37% less likely to skip a class. Youth with mentors are also 46% less likely to use illegal drugs and 27% less likely to start drinking. Even more, youth who have mentors report to have fewer “depression symptoms” and increases in “social acceptance, academic attitudes, and grades.” Finally, 76% of at-risk young adults who had a mentor aspire to enroll in and graduate from college versus half of at-risk youth who had no mentor. (www.youthmentor.org) Our vision of a community where youth grow up with confidence, community connections, and develop positive self-worth is life breathing to a community. A small community like Northfield has the opportunity to change the world and help create individuals who are free thinkers, and encourage their youth to make a difference in the world. That is Project Friendship’s goal. We do this through mentoring and encouraging ALL students, regardless of risk factors, to take part in Project Friendship. Project Friendship is unique in there is no cost to participate, participation is open to ALL youth, and we have a waiting list of MENTORS waiting for kids. The training that Project Friendship mentors receive is unique in that it is extensive, includes community members, and looks at the future rather than what doesn’t work. It is through Project Friendship that mentors and mentees can see and reach their better selves as adults.