January is Mentoring Month

January is National Mentoring Month, a time to recognize the transformational power of mentoring in the lives of young people. It’s a time to celebrate our accomplishments and affirm our commitment to the work still ahead of us. Here at Mass Mentoring Partnership, we certainly have a lot to celebrate.

Over the past year, we’ve worked with our more than 200 member organizations to expand and improve the opportunities available for young people, including:

• 280+ hours of free technical assistance
• AmeriCorps members were placed at 16 sites across Massachusetts, impacting 3,000 youth and recruiting and matching more than 130 mentors
• MMP provided recruitment support to 27 different programs on three different recruitment campaigns with almost $15,000 in seed grant money awarded. More than 1,800 new mentors were recruited through events, campaigns, and the MMP website.
• MMP was able to increase the funding of the Mentoring Matching Grants line item from $250,000 to $350,000 and also distributed a record-high $348,000 to programs this year. We also received more than $265,000 of donated match activities.
• MMP engaged a variety of media, businesses, government and community leaders to position mentoring as a powerful youth development strategy
• MMP was able to engage more programs and provide specific opportunities to mentoring programs serving the Western MA region

This month, we’re even more hopeful about the opportunities for 2013. Here are some of the key things we’ll be working on:

• Strengthening program training, technical assistance and coaching efforts through more advanced content and innovative methods of delivery
• Expanding the scope of Mentors of Color Campaign to focus on larger challenges of diversity and other geographies
• increase financial resources to the field by 5%
• Deepen efforts to raise the profile of mentoring as key youth development strategy targeting the specific issues of violence prevention, workforce readiness and academic preparedness
• Create a public policy agenda for the mentoring field
• Disseminate findings from Mass Mentoring Counts 2012

In recognition of the importance of mentoring and our approach to program building, the Bank of America Charitable Foundation has provided a $75,000 grant to build capacity for our statewide operations. The bank and its employees have been longtime partners through financial and volunteer support. From Boston to the Berkshires, the funds will help us provide training, technical assistance, and recruitment assistance to programs that will help serve more children in need of quality mentoring relationships. It’s these types of partnerships that have a real and lasting impact.

Not involved in mentoring? January is the perfect time to start making a difference in the life of a young person. Learn more about the events planned for National Mentoring Month or find a program near you. 

Introducing Sarah Shugrue, our newest MMP staff member

As Mass Mentoring Partnership’s newest staff member, I am honored to be part of such a talented and passionate team and to serve as manager of Western MA partnerships. I fell in love with this region during my time at Western New England University and am thrilled to continue to give back to the community and help grow the field of mentoring.

Prior to joining MMP, I was a training & program manager with Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central MA/Metrowest. During my time there, I focused on site-based program development and support, mentor training, and was a member of a Board of Directors committee focused on staff development. In addition, I worked on the implementation of the Mentoring Children of Prisoners and Office of Juvenile Justice Delinquency Prevention grants, ensuring that our highest risk children were matched effectively.

One of the most rewarding partnerships I was part of was between College of the Holy Cross and Girls Inc. of Worcester. In early 2011, we piloted a girl-specific, after-school program with 10 mentors. The outcomes have been tremendous and the retention rate going into year two was almost 100%.

I realized that mentoring was the field I wanted to be part of during my year as an AmeriCorps VISTA through Massachusetts Campus Compact. I served at College of the Holy Cross in Worcester in the Donelan Office of Community Based Learning. I was primarily responsible for connecting students with meaningful community experiences that married theory and practice. In my first week, over 20 students told me they wanted their experience to be as a “Big.” I came to learn that Big Brothers Big Sisters was the biggest volunteer placement at the Holy Cross. In 2012, 308 students served as “Bigs.” Their dedication to their “Little” is what led me not only to work for Big Brothers Big Sisters, but also to become a mentor myself.

Two years ago I was matched with Nicole, my now 14-year-old mentee. One of my favorite moments with her was showing up to her house with a bike that was donated to the agency and spending the afternoon teaching her to ride it. It is now something we do together often and in a couple of years hope to complete the Rodman Ride for Kids together. She has now also requested that I teach her how to drive! Nicole has taught me to never give up, she has overcome a lot in her short life and she has big dreams, I’m glad I can be part of her journey.

I have been fortunate to have tremendous mentors throughout my life from my academic advisor who enrolled me in a public speaking course when I told him how afraid of it I was to community leaders who have guided my growth as an active citizen and encouraged me to chase my dreams. I truly believe in the power of mentoring, having experienced it both professionally and personally. In my position I hope to raise awareness around the importance of mentoring, leverage resources for programs, and work together to grow the field of mentoring.

Guest author Sarah Shugrue is the manager of Western MA partnerships

Introducing MMP’s newest staff member, Emily Bishop

As the newest staff member at Mass Mentoring Partnership (MMP), I am delighted to be part of such a vibrant and dedicated organization. From my first day at MMP I could sense the passion and commitment of the staff. I am thrilled to contribute as the development and field resources associate.
Prior to coming to MMP, I worked as an education legislative assistant in the U.S. Senate. It was through this education policy work that I was first introduced to the proven success and importance of formal mentoring programs. Although policies can be written in an attempt to lower the dropout rate and improve academics, time after time mentoring programs are shown to keep kids engaged and successful in school. Creating positive and encouraging relationships is of utmost importance in supporting a thriving future for children.

Additionally, I have personally seen the success of mentoring programs. While in college, I participated in a “Big Buddies” program and was paired with a young boy from a very large family. We went to the movies, out for ice cream, or played basketball. For him, the value of the partnership was having one-on-one attention from an adult, something he was unable to receive at home. For me, I learned patience, dedication, and new aspects to the community in which I lived and went to school.

Throughout my life, I have had many informal mentors that have guided and encouraged me. Recently, I have been fortunate enough to have a more formal mentoring experience. Last spring, I was named a 2011 Eli J. Segal Citizen Leadership Fellow. Created to honor the legacy of Eli Segal, architect of the AmeriCorps program, this fellowship is unique as it pairs each fellow with a “coach” or mentor who is more established in his or her career. Over the summer, I met with my coach almost every week to discuss leadership skills, career advice and personal challenges. This relationship continues to be extremely valuable as I navigate my professional and personal life. In fact, my mentor helped me realize the importance of seeking out new and different opportunities, which ultimately lead me to MMP!

I truly believe in the power of mentoring in guiding young people to success. At MMP, I hope to contribute to the mentoring movement by boosting awareness, cultivating resources and supporting quality programs.

Guest author Emily Bishop is the development and field resources associate at MMP.