Behind the Headlines

By Adam Bennett adam@monroenews.com

I received an odd message yesterday.

It was from a Monroe man thanking me for the job we did on a story highlighting the Monroe County Mentoring Program. The story, which ran in Tuesday’s Evening News, detailed this man’s involvement with the program. For four years he has been helping teens find their way through life by lending a guiding hand.

I interviewed him for the story and our photo staff snapped a great picture of him doing what he does, talking with the young man he’s working with now.

I found his story inspiring. Albeit a brief meeting, he spoke with me about his troubled youth growing up in Detroit. He escaped that to become a successful businessman.

Now with a life’s experience to draw from, he’s using that wisdom to help show troubled young men how to get on the path they need to turn their lives around. He’s a role model and a listening ear to the half-dozen at-risk youth he’s mentored since joining the program.

That’s why I found it unique, and somewhat ironic, that this man was thanking me. I had only chronicled his good works.

So thank you Mr. Zarb for what you have done.