Laurietta Faulkner will take over as the new Executive Director of the
Mentor-Role Model Program beginning today, Monday, August 6. This will
be the second time she has served in that position, having been the
program leader for five years from 1997 to 2002.
"I'm excited about coming back," Faulkner said Friday, noting that she
has privately been mentoring during her absence from the post. "It's
just a passion with me," she said, noting that "it is also a
challenge."
"We were very fortunate in that Ms. Faulkner was willing to come back
to the program," said William I. Fitzgerald, chairman of the program's
Board of Directors. "She received high praise from those who worked
with her during her earlier tenure and it gives us a very smooth
transition," Fitzgerald said.
Ms. Faulkner takes over from Rev. Kevin Chandler, who resigned
effective July 26 to move to yet another program. Chandler will be
heading the "Call Me Mister" program which is just opening at Longwood
University. According to Chandler, Longwood just received certification
to establish the program which works to encourage young black males to
go into teaching, particularly at the elementary level. "At Longwood I
will be partnering with different state colleges to enroll young black
males in their teaching curriculums," Chandler said.
"That was one of the things that I learned a lot about while working
with the Mentor Role Model Program," Chandler explained. "The lack of
the presence of young black men in our elementary schools always stood
out. These young students need to have role models in their lives since
many of them live with single mothers and never have any influence from
males. Those mothers are doing the best they can, but these youth need
some positive male influence."
Chandler said he is delighted that Ms. Faulkner will return to the
post. "She already knows about the program and there will be no down
time. She'll jump right on it," he said.