Children, mentors get inside view of the Legislature

They sank back into the red leather chairs in the Assembly chambers of the state Legislature, as if they were the real legislators who sit there.

These children, from the Mentor Center of Western Nevada, listened attentively as Assemblywoman Bonnie Parnell, D-Carson City, told them about the room they were in and the people that made decisions there.

"You try to get along with your peers," Parnell said from the front of the room. "You have your opinions, but ultimately, you end up doing what's best for everyone."

The mentors and students were at the Legislature on Wednesday night because Ruth Gordon, executive director of the center, decided an introduction to the legislative building would be an invaluable lesson.

"With the session starting soon, I though it'd be kind of cool to introduce them to this," she said. "I hope that the mentors will continue to talk with them through the session and that the kids will start to pay attention to the building they've all seen."

Chief Clerk Nancy Tribble and Carson City Supervisor Pete Livermore both read declarations proclaiming January as National Mentor Month. Tribble did her best to demonstrate how she reads bills super fast during the sessions.

"I think the most interesting part was learning about what (the legislators) do," said Jeremy Dimmick, a fifth-grader from Empire Elementary School, after the presentation. "It was kind of nice to learn what they're doing."

Jeremy has been mentored by area attorney Charlie Kilpatrick for several years.

"I think he's a really nice mentor," Jeremy said. "We get to do things and spend time together."

The two of them spend time with Kilpatrick's wife, Jo, and her mentee, 11-year-old Eagle Valley Middle School Student, Alannah Sullivan.

"We have a lot of fun," Kilpatrick said. "They learn from us and we learn from them, like music. Van Halen. Metallica. And is it Queen?"

Mentor Center group activities occur about four times a year. The number of children needing mentoring is increasing to include those whose parents are in prison.

"We need a lot more mentors in the area to support these kids," Gordon said.

Contact reporter Maggie O'Neill at moneill@nevadaappeal.com or 881-1219.