A R T S , E D U C AT I O N & I N N O VAT I O N
Lighting Paths
Newton Mentoring Inc. was founded more than a decade ago and carries on the legacy and vision of the late Judge Horace J. Johnson Jr. by providing individual support for at-risk children enrolled in the Newton County School System. by TERRI WEBSTER Newton Mentoring Inc.—a grassroots organization developed more than a decade ago to provide individual support for at-risk children in the Newton County School System— exists today because of one man’s vision to meet the needs of his community. Judge Horace J. Johnson Jr., who died in July at the age of 61, understood the value in providing consistent guidance for local youth, and his memory lives on through the program he helped create. Brought to life on Jan. 22, 2008, Newton Mentoring currently deploys 53 mentors to serve 88 students throughout the county. One of those mentors, Lorenzo White, a minister at Springfield Baptist Church in Conyers, experienced the need firsthand and through his own involvement with children, especially those from single-mother homes. “I’d grown up without a father, so I knew what they were going through,” said White, who linked arms with the program two years ago. “I want to see these kids be successful in life. Sometimes, I get real touched by these kids.”
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One of White’s pupils, a sixth-grader, has made a lasting impact on him. “When I first got him, he was wild and wooly,” White said. “He wouldn’t talk to anyone. He’d throw that hoodie on and turn sideways from me. I wanted to give up, but God didn’t give up on me, so I couldn’t give up on him.” Soon, he discovered the student was a gifted artist and encouraged him to pursue and hone his talent. By the end of sixth grade, the situation began to improve. “I kept showing up,” White said. “His grades went from Ds and Fs to Bs and As. He really amazed me. By seventh grade, he continued to improve, and at the end of eighth grade, he had done a complete turnaround.” Meanwhile, Margaret Moore has been involved as a mentor for roughly six years, working primarily with elementary-aged children. She also has a personal experience with a student that stands out. “She was an angry child, and we had a rough time in the beginning,” Moore said. “After time, she settled down, and we became buddies. I just kept showing up.” At the end-of-year celebration, the student appeared in a video and credited Moore with helping to address her anger issues. “I was so touched,” Moore said.
