3 minute read
Crystal Ledford
ofForsyth
Crystal Ledford Finding joy through mentoring
Story by Sudie Crouch | Photo by Kelly Whitmire
“Joy” is one of the words that comes to mind after speaking with Crystal Ledford for just a few minutes.
It’s easy to see how her effervescent and positive personality can definitely be a benefit in her role as the Public Information Assistant at the City of Cumming.
She handles most of the daily communication for the city and keeps the public informed of all of what’s happening, among other tasks that she handles there.
She’s worked closely with the Cumming City Center property manager to help create their website and social media pages to help keep the community in the know and was instrumental in helping create and launch surveys for the planning and zoning director as the department worked on the Comprehensive Plan Update. Needless to say — she’s busy.
She relishes her job because it helps her stay involved and in touch with the community she loves but also felt like a natural transgression because of the connections she made when she was a reporter for the Forsyth County News.
Even though her position at the City of Cumming keeps her busy, Crystal said having a regular schedule has allowed her the opportunity to get back to doing things she loves — like participating in theater and something she’s always had a heart for — mentoring.
Her first experience with mentoring was years earlier in Haralson County, and she had enjoyed it so much that she was looking for a way to be able to get involved again. When
Coming up on her fourth year volunteering with MentorMe’s after school program, Crystal has found it to be not only rewarding but something fun she looks forward to each week.
For the last two years, she’s been able to work with the same student, helping to build and strengthen that bond. While the mentoring focuses on homework help, she says it’s an enriching partnership that makes life better for both the mentee and mentor.
“Being able to see the joy of a child is just incredible,” she said, reflecting on how those connections can also be filled with fun moments too.
Reading with her student is one of her favorite activities, as she uses her love of theater and drama to bring the stories to life as more of a performance, than just words on the page. Being able to have that sense of play helps build that connection with the student, and can help the student feel connected as well.
Building those relationships can be crucial for adults, but can be even more so for children, as it helps them find confidence, learn new skills, and to be able to have someone they trust to talk about things with.
“It’s so important for kids to have that extra relationship outside of those that feel more authoritative,” Crystal said, adding, “It helps them to have those bonds with an adult to be their cheerleader, support, and buddy. It can make such a huge difference for them.”
Crystal says you can never do too much for children, and interestingly enough, her love for working with children had a special boost. In addition to her past mentoring experience and working briefly in the school system, Crystal is a real-life Mrs. Claus.
Her husband, Walter Smith, is a professional Santa Claus, and even though she hasn’t officially donned the red suit, she did get to help with some of the Christmas events. Seeing the joy they were able to spread and experiencing it themselves helped spark that reminder of how she enjoyed mentoring and led her to sign up shortly afterwards.
In addition, she and her husband have also fostered approximately 20 dogs for the Forsyth Humane Society over the years, enjoying the opportunity to free up space at the shelter for another pet, while opening their home to a pup until they find their forever home.
Being able to help make a difference every day is just important to Crystal, and mentoring is allowing her to do just that. “I get so much out of it,” she says. “I hope they get as much out of it as I do.”
