Emanuel encourages Chicagoans to mentor youth

CHICAGO (WLS) -- Mayor Rahm Emanuel is encouraging Chicagoans to mentor youth to help them succeed.

On Friday, the group "Illinois Mentoring Partnerships" presented Emanuel with its "Advocate for Youth Mentoring Impact."

The mayor thanked the mentors who are offering youth support.

"You are turning thousands of lives around and opening thousands of doors. Our test as a city is to make sure that in the future Chicago and every Chicagoan has a better future. And your mentorship allows us to achieve that dream," Emanuel said.

Last year, Emanuel launched a mentoring challenge seeking 1,000 residents to serve as new mentors for the city's young people.