Mentor spotlight: Charlotte from Generations Incorporated

This guest post was submitted by Generations Incorporated.

Charlotte Rose, a member of the Roxbury community, is an AARP Experience Corps volunteer member serving with Generations Incorporated. Nearly nine years ago and newly retired, she became involved as a reading volunteer at the Tobin Elementary School in Roxbury.  She learned that many young students were unable to read at grade level. She felt a strong sense to help.  These were children from her community and she now had time to help.  She received great training from Generations Incorporated and began her work with young struggling readers.

One of the first students that Ms. Rose met was Brianna, a first grader. Brianna really struggled with early reading skills.  She was also physically larger than her classmates.  Because of this, she suffered from low self-esteem.  Ms. Rose began working with Brianna, reading with her twice a week. After just a few reading sessions, things began to change.  Brianna looked forward to her time with Ms. Rose and her confidence grew more and more as each week went by. Her reading skills also improved, dramatically.  Ms. Rose worked with her throughout the school year, reading books together, using flashcards and other early literacy techniques, and providing lots of encouragement.  Over the months, they had developed a strong and meaningful mentoring relationship.  By the end of May, Brianna had made remarkable progress as a reader and felt more comfortable with herself and her abilities.  And it gave Ms. Rose great satisfaction and meaning to her life.

When asked why she serves, Ms. Rose said, “First, I like kids! And by serving I am investing in the children’s’ futures.  I want to help my community.”  She feels it is incredibly important work because as a community member, “You want young children to have a strong early foundation. Having caring community adults in their lives can help to build that foundation.”

Ms. Rose now manages a team of AARP Experience Corps volunteer members at the new Dudley Street Neighborhood Charter School in Roxbury.  Team members assist in kindergarten and first grade classrooms to help conduct literacy activities.  She says the program is off to a great start: “We feel very welcomed by the teachers and principal.  They couldn’t wait for us to start!”

 If you would like to become part of this literacy work and can commit a few hours a week to help young children, please contact Katie Klister at 617-399-4700 or kklister@generationsinc.org.

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.
   

Program highlight: Generations Incorporated

This guest post is courtesy of Michael Hart, volunteer recruitment and training AmeriCorps VISTA at Generations Incorporated. Michael answered some questions from Mass Mentoring regarding his program and its National Mentoring Month events.

1. What is your role at the organization? Please give us some information about your program.

Generations Incorporated first opened its doors in 1991 and in the late 1990s we shifted our focus to youth literacy. At Generations Incorporated, we unite older adults with students in Greater-Boston public schools and after-school programs. Our older adult volunteers act as literacy tutors either in one-on-one settings or in small groups.

I am on the recruitment and training team, and along with my other team members I recruit and train volunteers who are interested in helping improve the literacy rates of students in their communities. Through our trainings and our sites, we give our volunteers the tools and the medium to help improve and shape their communities.

2. Why is mentoring important?

I was very fortunate growing up – I had a lot of great people in my life that helped me figure out where I wanted to eventually end up and what I wanted to be doing. Between teachers, various coaches, and my parents, someone was always there to support me. I know I am certainly not alone. I think when we each really take a minute we can picture a mentor that has stood out to us and has helped each one of us to get where we are going. To me, mentoring is about simply supporting your community members and trying to help them get everything they can out of life.

3. What did your program do to celebrate National Mentoring Month?

Our volunteers meet once a month at the schools or after-school programs to talk about upcoming events or participate in trainings. For National Mentoring Month we decided to have one or two members from our volunteer management team bring coffee, donuts, and fruit to all of our sites during their meetings. The volunteers were gracious enough to allow us to use some of their team meetings to thank them for all they do to help make our program so successful.

4. What was the outcome of the event?

We were very pleased with the outcome – we were able to visit 14 of our 17 sites and speak with more than 170 volunteers.

5. What was the overall response to the event?

The response was overwhelmingly positive. Our volunteers expressed that they did appreciate the coffee and food and really liked having someone from our office coming out to the sites, acknowledging and thanking them for their hard work.

6. Did you do anything else for National Mentoring Month?

Along with using all of our social media outlets to create additional awareness for National Mentoring Month, we sent a mailing to some prospective volunteers who had expressed interest in becoming a mentor with Generations Incorporated.

7. How can people can get in touch with your program for additional information?

If people are interested in learning more about mentoring opportunities with Generations Incorporated they are welcome to contact Mike Hart directly at mhart@generationsinc.org or 617.423.0408. People can also learn more by visiting our website at www.generationsinc.org.

Program highlight: Generations Incorporated

Mentoring Day at Fenway is less than three weeks away! Let’s celebrate by highlighting another Red Sox Mentoring Challenge program, Generations Incorporated.

Mike Hart is the volunteer recruitment and training AmeriCorps VISTA at Generations Incorporated.

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

Mike:At Generations Incorporated, we unite older adults with students in Greater Boston public schools and after-school programs. Our volunteers act as literacy tutors either in one-to-one settings or in small groups.

I am on the recruitment and training team, and along with my other team members I recruit and train volunteers who are interested in helping improve the literacy rates of students in their communities. Through our trainings and our sites, we give our volunteers the tools and the medium to help improve their communities.

MMP: Why do you feel mentoring is important?

Mike: I think when we each really take a minute we can picture a mentor that has stood out to us in the past and has helped each one of us to get where we are going. Becoming a mentor is not only rewarding but it allows us the opportunity to help shape your community. It really gives you an outlet to utilize your personal experiences to benefit another person.

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

Mike: Every good team needs a solid leader that they can rely on both on and off the field. For that very reason I would have to say Jason Varitek has to be one of the best mentors on the Red Sox. Few people realize the Red Sox have only had three team captains since 1923; the most recent is Jason Varitek. While Varitek’s role has changed over the past couple of years, he is always willing to step in and fill whatever role is needed for the betterment of the team.

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

Mike: This year I was given the opportunity to mentor a student in our program. I read with him twice a week at one of our sites in Roxbury. In the beginning it was hard because he didn’t always want to read, but the more sessions we had, the more excited he got about seeing me and reading. It was absolutely amazing to see how much he progressed in less than a year’s time. It is a great feeling to be a part of that, and know that you really made a difference.

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

Mike: If people are interested in learning more about mentoring opportunities with Generations Incorporated they are welcome to contact me directly at mhart@generationsinc.org or 617.423.0408. People can also learn more by visiting our website at www.generationsinc.org.