Mentors
Mentor Maxine Smith honored at 2011 Bank of America Local Hero
Kevin Cunningham, President-Bank of America Connecticut, presented the award to Maxine at the November 22 ceremony at the Bushnell. For her tremendous volunteer contributions, Career Beginnings has received a $5,000 check from Bank of America.
COMMENTS FROM CAREER BEGINNERS ABOUT THEIR MENTOR EXPERIENCES
“My mentor has helped me in a lot of ways I couldn’t even count. She was always there for me, whenever I had a question she was always there with an answer. I was so confused coming into this whole college process because I didn’t know where to start, but she helped each step of the way and we began our journey one step at a time.”
-Christina Partaug, Career Beginnings graduate, ‘05
Career Beginnings’ mentors play a vital role in helping us achieve our mission of putting college in reach of all youth. Career Beginnings offers workshops on the college admission process, one-on-one advising from staff and pairing with volunteer mentors. On average 92% of our graduates enroll in college directly out of high school.
What does a mentor do? We train mentors and provide support in building their one-on-one relationship with a Hartford-area high school student. Mentors spend a minimum of 5 hours per month with their students working on the college admission process. This includes attending one monthly workshop and meeting on their own at least once a month. Mentors and students are paired at the end of the junior year.
Who can be a mentor? Career Beginnings mentors must be college-educated professionals with at least 5 hours per month to spend with a Hartford-area youth. Our mentors are good listeners, non-judgmental and caring.
What are the benefits? Mentors enjoy the satisfaction of knowing they have helped a youth make positive choices for the future.
How to Become a Mentor
If you are interested in mentoring for Career Beginnings please contact: Sue Bowen, Program and Recruitment Director at: sbowen@metrohartford.com or (860) 702-3807.
All potential volunteers must agree to a background check. We ask that the volunteer bear the cost of this check ($15) sent to:
Career Beginnings
c/o Hartford Consortium for Higher Education
31 Pratt St, 4th Floor
Hartford, CT 06103
Mentor Resources
Every mentoring relationship is different but each one requires your patience and commitment. Some relationships take root easily and flourish while others may need more work on your part. Here are some links to resources that will help you establish and grow a strong relationship with your mentee - from ideas of things to do together to how to fix a relationship that doesn’t seem to be working.
http://www.preventionworksct.org/mentorresources.html
The goals of the Connecticut Mentoring Partnership are to increase the number of mentoring relationships and mentoring programs across the state and to assure the quality and safety of those programs. This site offers several good articles specifically for mentors.
http://educationnorthwest.org/webfm_send/173
This resource is a great mentor training supplement, providing mentors with ten simple tips for effective relationship development. The guide is filled with real quotes from mentors and youth about the value of mentor traits such as active listening, being positive, and giving youth a role in selecting activities.
http://www.youthmentoring.org/06help.html
Youth Mentoring Connection awakens at-risk youth to their power, unique gifts and purpose by matching them with caring adult mentors and placing that “match” within a structured group dynamic that provides the resources youth need to reach productive, conscious adulthood. We further seek to awaken society to the needs, promise and value of this overlooked population.
Our Vision is a community where young people are truly seen and not just watched, where society understands and accepts its responsibility in meeting the needs of all young people, and where young people bring their gifts back into their communities as productive members of society.
http://www.mentoring.org/get_involved/for_mentors/resources_publications/
No matter how much you enjoy being a mentor, there are probably times when you think, "So now what do I do?"
Not only will you find activities to do with your mentee, but you will also find exercises you can do to improve your mentoring skills. They do not take long, but will go a long way in making you an even better mentor.