Newsom seeks 10,000 male mentors to combat youth loneliness crisis

BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KERO) — Gov. Gavin Newsom is calling on young men to step up in their communities as mentors to address what he calls "an epidemic of loneliness."

"This notion of being seen and heard is profoundly important at a time when people don't feel seen, they don't feel heard, they feel increasingly isolated, they feel increasingly alone," Newsom said.

Newsom is urging 10,000 men across California to volunteer through the California Service Corps and other mentorship programs, encouraging young men to log off the internet and connect in their communities.

Jovon Dangerfield works with Time for Change, a nonprofit that helps youth ages 16 to 24 build life skills. He says while he's optimistic about the governor's efforts, he worries it may only scratch the surface.

"What I'm