The Red Sox Mentoring Challenge and Generations Incorporated

Since 2005, Mass Mentoring Partnership has teamed up with the Boston Red Sox for the Red Sox Mentoring Challenge, an initiative designed to recruit more caring Massachusetts adults as mentors. We’ve just launched the 8th year of the campaign, and we’re highlighting programs that participated last year and made successful matches through the campaign. This is a post from mentor Eleanor Boudreau with Generations Incorporated.

1. Tell us a little about yourself and your mentee, what mentoring program you’re involved in, and how long you have been matched.
   This is my first year as a minimum-time AmeriCorps member with Generations Incorporated, and I am currently serving as a Reading Coach at the Dever Elementary in Dorchester.  Since I started in September, I have been a one-on-one literacy coach for five students each week. 
   
2. How did you hear about the Red Sox Mentoring Challenge and what prompted you to get involved as a mentor?
   I heard about Generations Incorporated through some of my fellow volunteers at JumpStart. After getting in touch with Generations Incorporated, they invited me to the Red Sox Mentoring Challenge info session they were having. Since then, I have been volunteering about 10 hours a week.  I wanted to get involved and become a mentor because I like kids, I like being with other people, and I don’t like sitting around the house all day.
3. What lessons have you drawn from the Red Sox team and its players about what it means to be a mentor and a role model?
   It all revolves around good communication with each other. I think we see it within our team of volunteers at the Dever too – with good communication and good leadership we can really help one another succeed.  The more we open our lines of communication, the more successful our students are.
4. What has been the most rewarding aspect of being a mentor?
   The most rewarding part is seeing the improvements the students make academically from October to May. I have seen significant improvement in all five of the students that I work with and it’s a great feeling to know that I made a difference.
   
5. What would you say to those who are on the fence about mentoring (i.e. those who think they do not have enough time, expertise, etc)?
   I would tell them to absolutely join! You can always find the time to be a mentor even if it’s only an hour or two a week.  If you are concerned that you don’t have the expertise, they will train you and show you how to make a difference.
   

The Red Sox Mentoring Challenge and Partners for Youth with Disabilities

Since 2005, Mass Mentoring Partnership has teamed up with the Boston Red Sox for the Red Sox Mentoring Challenge, an initiative designed to recruit more caring Massachusetts adults as mentors. We’ve just launched the 8th year of the campaign, and we’re highlighting programs that participated last year and made successful matches through the campaign. This is a post from mentor Doug Upton with Partners for Youth with Disabilities.

1. Tell us a little about yourself and your mentee, what mentoring program you’re involved in, and how long you have been matched.
   I’m a 44-year old man who moved to Boston over 12 years ago. I’m a volunteer with Partners for Youth with Disabilities‘ (PYD)  Mentor Match program, a program that matches mentors with young people who may share similar experiences with illness or disability. I was matched with my mentee Manuel in February of 2008, and we are approaching five years together as a match. Manuel enjoys visiting the library and museums, and taking a walk through the city when the weather’s nice. He’s always ready to cheer Boston’s home teams!
2. How did you hear about the Red Sox Mentoring Challenge and what prompted you to get involved as a mentor?
   I became motivated to become involved as a mentor after spending over a year recovering from a tough illness. I decided that it would be good idea to help other people – the way so many people helped me. I came to PYD in 2007 after looking for opportunities to work with youth, and specifically youth with disabilities. Prior to learning about PYD, I had tried to work as a volunteer with youth that had experienced an illness like I had. In trying to do so I met great resistance until coming to PYD. As a person who has experienced stroke, I have a lot of common experiences that can help Manuel navigate the learning delays and other challenges he has due to his condition.
3. What lessons have you drawn from the Red Sox team and its players about what it means to be a mentor and a role model?
   Like the Red Sox team, being a mentor means always being there in the field – whether we’re winning or we’re losing.
4. What has been the most rewarding aspect of being a mentor?
   Seeing the growth and maturity of a very promising young man, full of potential. Recently,  Manuel initiated a conversation about going to college, and how he’s contemplating choosing a school outside of Boston. He’s eager to have a sense that he can live independently. I was very happy to hear him speak in these terms and to give this so much thought. I have no doubt that his sense of confidence and his maturity is a real result of the opportunities provided by PYD, including the Mentor Match program and Access to Theatre.
5. What would you say to those who are on the fence about mentoring (i.e. those who think they do not have enough time, expertise, etc)?
   It’s surprising how easy it is – all I need to do is lend an ear or be there for somebody.Manuel’s personality has come out in the time we have spent together, and I have witnessed him becoming increasingly comfortable in social situations. A couple of years ago, I worked as an English as a second language teacher and brought Manuel on a field trips with my students to the Harvard Museum of Natural History. Manuel had a fun day with the other kids and helped me with some of the teaching, he was helping the students learn names of (the glass) flowers, and of course he had them in stitches by the end of the day with his comic routines. Our relationship is a great example of a mentoring relationship that is beneficial to both mentor and mentee.

Program highlight: Strong Women, Strong Girls

The Red Sox are in the home stretch of the regular season, and our Red Sox Mentoring Challenge is wrapping up for the year, too. Rachel Spekman is the Boston program manager at Strong Women, Strong Girls, another program participating in the challenge.

MMP: Tell us a little bit about your mentoring program and your role.

Rachel: The mission of Strong Women, Strong Girls (SWSG) is to utilize the lessons learned from strong women throughout history, to encourage girls and young women to become strong women themselves. By building communities of women committed to supporting positive social change, SWSG works to create cycles of mutual empowerment for women and girls. I am a Boston program manager, and as part of my role, I coordinate college students who serve as mentors for girls in grades 3-5. I work with the Tufts and Harvard chapters or about 60 students total.

MMP: Why do you feel mentoring is important?

Rachel: Mentoring is a critical skill for building relationships, role models, and developing skills. Per our model, we believe that relationships, skills and role models are essential to helping girls and women succeed. The SWSG model focuses on building these three areas for girls and women.

MMP: Your program is participating in this year’s Red Sox Mentoring Challenge, an initiative designed recruit more caring Massachusetts adults as mentors. Which Red Sox player do you think is the best mentor on the team?

Rachel: Jason Varitek because he demonstrates loyalty having been with the team for so long. He is also very involved in his community and always seems to be aligning himself with different non-profit organizations.

MMP: If you have personally been a mentor, tell us what that experience has been like.

Rachel: I have been a teacher and a mentor in the past and love the individual connections I’ve been able to make. There is nothing as rewarding and fulfilling as making a genuine connection with a child (or adult mentee!) The most important thing people should know about mentoring is that reliability is so critical because your mentee is depending on you to provide feedback, resources, and perhaps structure.

MMP: How can people learn more about mentoring opportunities with your organization?

Rachel: Go to our web site – we just won the Massachusetts Nonprofit Network Communications Award! There are tons of resources, ways to get involved, pictures, and exciting things showcased on our website.

Program highlight: Big Friends Little Friends at Family Service, Inc.

We’re celebrating Mentoring Day at Fenway today with a Red Sox Mentoring Challenge program highlight of Big Friends Little Friends at Family Service Inc., in Lawrence. Mercedes Tran is the match coordinator there.

MMP: Tell us a little about your mentoring program and your role.

Mercedes: I am the match coordinator for Big Friends, Little Friends in Lawrence. I interview mentors and mentees in order to learn more about their personalities. I find out about their hobbies, likes and dislikes, so that the match is made for the best future friendship possible.

MMP: Why do you feel mentoring is important?

Mercedes: Young people need adults who support them. It’s also really important for kids to have someone who shares life’s moments with them.

MMP: Your program is participating in this year’s Red Sox Mentoring Challenge, an initiative designed recruit more caring Massachusetts adults as mentors. Which Red Sox player do you think is the best mentor on the team?

Mercedes: I think that David Ortiz is the best mentor on the Red Sox. His positive attitude both on and off the field shows he cares about kids and his community.

MMP: What do you think is the most important thing for people to know if they are thinking about becoming a mentor?

Mercedes: I was a mentor, and I had a lot of fun with my mentee. It was a personally rewarding experience, and it was as simple as “being there” when she needed me. We discussed challenges and focused on her dreams. She knew that she could accomplish more than what was immediately visible to her.

MMP: How can people learn more about mentoring opportunities with your organization?

Mercedes: Visit our web site or attend one of our “Mentor for a Day” events. It really lets you try mentoring on for size!

Program highlight: Springfield School Volunteers

It’s the weekend, and we’re psyched for Mentoring Day at Fenway on Monday! Today’s Red Sox Mentoring Challenge program is Springfield School Volunteers (SSV). Judy Donahue is the program manager there.

MMP: Tell us a little about your mentoring program and your role.

Judy: I am the program manager for the SSV mentoring program, which is a school-based program with a district-wide mentoring program for school staff. There are 298 mentors in all. Most of our mentors are focused in middle and high schools, but we do have mentors in the elementary schools, too.

MMP: Why do you feel mentoring is important?

Judy: As a large urban school district, we have many students who do not have strong role models. Our program attempts to provide caring adults who can serve as role models and promote academic achievement and consistent attendance in school.

MMP: Your program is participating in this year’s Red Sox Mentoring Challenge, an initiative designed recruit more caring Massachusetts adults as mentors. Which Red Sox player do you think is the best mentor on the team?

Judy: Although my favorite player is Jacoby Ellsbury, I think that Jason Varitek, as team captain, would provide the most leadership.

MMP: What do you think is the most important thing people should know if they are thinking about becoming a mentor?

Judy: I tell our mentors that it takes time to develop the relationship. Patience is the key. You may not see the results of your efforts for some time. Our students often have a hard time trusting. If you are consistent, you will eventually gain your student’s trust. AND – don’t forget to have fun!

MMP: How can people learn more about mentoring opportunities with your organization?

Judy: Visit our web site to learn more about Springfield School Volunteers. You can also call 413-787-7015 or find us on Facebook.