How can Mississippians help the state flourish and become aleader in America?

Attorney General Mike Moore believes an increase in volunteerscan turn the state around and get it back on the right track.

Moore visited Brookhaven Tuesday as part of the Link-A-Life tourto talk with residents about the significant difference they canmake by giving one hour of their time to a worthy cause. He alsotoured Brookhaven High School

“What we really need is a huge emergence of volunteerism in thestate,” he said. “I’m convinced if we do it in huge numbers that wewill lift our state up from the bottom.”

Moore mentioned how Mississippi often places near last in mostcategories, but recently was rated first, but not for something tobe proud of, he said.

“We lock up more people in the state of Mississippi per capitain America,” said Moore, adding that $275 million is spent annuallyfor prisoners in Mississippi.

The crowd also learned that 19 percent of Mississippi births in2000 were to teenage mothers, and $107 million was spent on foodstamps in 1996 for children born to teenagers.

Those figures can be turned around and turned around quickly,Moore added, if citizens take the time to be role models at leastone hour a week.

Mentors in the Lincoln County area have already seen what adifference they can make in the area.

“We found that 86 percent of the children, after having beenmatched less than six months, their self-esteem had improved,” saidMaxine Jones, program manager for Big Brothers-Big Sisters ofLincoln County.

Moore encouraged everyone to become a mentor either through thein-school program, Big Brothers-Big Sisters, or through the afterschool program, Boys and Girls Club.

“We want you to give of your heart and your mind and yourresources to a child,” said Moore, who has been a mentor to thesame student for four years.

He has watched his student grow into a child making good gradesand better decisions about life.

“I think I’ve had a small positive influence in her life. She’shad a huge influence in my life,” said Moore about how much mentorsare rewarded for their efforts.

Mentors only have to spend one hour a week to make a difference,said Moore. They can listen to their student, help them with schoolwork, be a friend or read with them.

Moore said it is most important just to pay the student somedeserved positive attention, because many children in Mississippionly have one parent living in their household. That one parentmight work long hours and have little quality time for theirchildren, he said.

Mamie Martin Elementary School principal Danita Hobbs said justa hug every day helps brighten a child’s life.

“We give a lot of hugs each day, but it’s difficult to give 800,so we need your help,” Hobbs told the group gathered in Bank ofBrookhaven’s conference room.

Robin Robinson said that it was important for responsible adultsto become mentors for children to see how they can work to becomeanything they want.

She encouraged companies to allow employees one hour a week formentoring “so that our young people can be influenced by employedbusiness people rather than the drug dealer on the corner.”

Host Bill Sones said the idea should catch on quickly in an areawhere most residents are willing to volunteer their time to thecommunity.

Moore agreed that he may be just “preaching to the choir” inLincoln County because of its strong volunteer base.

He complimented the community on its efforts, such as KidsKingdom and the newly-renovated Brookhaven High School.

“I’ve been to a lot of schools, probably almost every school inMississippi, and I’ve never seen a school as nice as that. Youobviously have your priorities right,” said Moore.

In closing, most of the participants signed up to be mentorsthis summer and during the next school year.

“I hope you’ll be involved in what I think is the greatest thingever done in Mississippi,” said Moore.