Four years in the life of a teenager is a long time – time when a caring adult can make a real difference
Ron Hunter is a husband, father to a 25-year-old college grad, and busy attorney with Cargill, Inc. He has lived all over the country, continues to be an active alum of St. Olaf College, and has maintained strong ties to North Minneapolis (where he grew up) by coaching various ball clubs and being a mentor to the kids.
Hunter was recently honored as a national “hero” for reaching out to a young boy from North Minneapolis through Big Brothers Big Sisters of America (BBBS). Heroes in Our Midst, a nationwide program recognizing everyday heroes, was designed to give people a chance to recognize and reach out to those making a positive impact in the lives of others.
Mentoring is a long-term commitment Hunter takes very seriously. Personally, he says, it’s unlike anything else in his life. Hunter says it brings him, “a different sort of satisfaction.”
Four years ago, Hunter met Rashad Samuels, a fourth grader from North Minneapolis. “It tickled me to hear a 10-year-old tell me he wanted to be a paleontologist,” says Hunter.
Hunter remembers the first day he met young Samuels and his mother Ashanti. He recalls being nervous, but mostly for Samuels’s sake. He wondered how the young boy felt being put into a program such as this. He thought about the boy’s mother: “Rashad is her only son, and here comes this stranger who’s going to be a part of his life.”
Putting the awkwardness aside, Hunter trusted that everything would work out. “My goal was to broaden Samuels’ horizons,” says Hunter, “push him to do things he wasn’t familiar with.”
At the time Hunter started mentoring through BBBS, his company started a $5 million dollar initiative called the Cargill Scholars Program, which helps kids develop math, science, and arts skills by pairing them up with a Cargill employee for five years. Fifty underprivileged fourth-graders were chosen to participate, and Samuels was one of them.
Hunter made sure to expose Samuels to music lessons, art, tutoring, parent support, and other activities the program had to offer. “This program was an opportunity to impact youngsters early on before they start falling through the cracks – before they reach high school,” says Hunter.
So here it is, four years later, and young Samuels is as tall as Hunter now. They share years of memories of trips to museums and libraries, family dinners, bowling, long talks, encouragement, and growth. Samuels said he was proud when Hunter got the award.
The aspiring paleontologist has grown into a talented cartoonist with an affinity for acting. Hunter says he will continue to be a part of Samuels’ life and thinks now is a “crucial time, more important then ever before” to maintain a presence. He will continue to educate his “little brother” on what he calls his biggest challenge with Samuels – to get him to make the connection that what he does now with his education will impact how he lives out the rest of his life.
“I’m not the kind of mentor that needs to have immediate gratification,” says Hunter. He trusts that, by “planting the seed,” good things will follow.
Say ‘thanks’ to a hero
Juliette Bogus, Heroes in Our Midst representative, says, “Sometimes mentors come and go, but [Hunter and Samuels] have had a unique four-year match.” She hopes their story will inspire others to connect in such a caring way. She is encouraging all Minnesotans to send thanks to Ron Hunter for the impact he has made in the community.
Send cards and letters to:
Ron Hunter
Heroes in Our Midst
2550 University Ave., #410N
St. Paul, MN 55114
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