Mass Mentoring Counts case study: Strong Women, Strong Girls

Mass Mentoring Counts (MMC) is a biennial statewide youth mentoring survey in Massachusetts,  conducted for MMP by the Donahue Institute at the University of Massachusetts, which reveals mentoring trends, gaps and program practices. In preparation for the release of the 2012 MMC survey to programs, we asked some programs to share how past MMC surveys have been helpful. Today’s guest post is from Amy Howard, executive director at Strong Women Strong Girls in Boston.

Strong Women, Strong Girls (SWSG) is a national nonprofit organization currently operating programs in three cities that range drastically in size, culture, and resources. As the local executive director for SWSG Boston, I am always on the lookout for research on mentoring that is specific to the communities we serve. SWSG engages college women as mentors to 3^rd-5^th grade girls at 55 school and community-based sites throughout Greater Boston.

Understanding the other services available at these sites and throughout the 12  neighborhoods we currently serve can be daunting, but tools like Mass Mentoring Counts help to do just that. In just a few short months at SWSG, I have used Mass Mentoring Counts to survey the landscape of mentoring at our current and prospective sites, brainstorm ideas for collaboration, and make the case for an increased investment of time and money in certain areas of our city.

Like many mentoring programs in the area, SWSG raises the majority of our private funds from Boston-based funders who want to better understand the climate of mentoring and girl-serving programs throughout the city, including how different programs coordinate their services to better meet the needs of youth. Having access to up-to-date, region-specific research is critical to my ability to make the case for SWSG and its expansion with regional funders. Most recently, I referred to Mass Mentoring Counts to highlight the critical importance of adding new program sites in the under-served areas of Dorchester and Mattapan to a local funder.

As a leader of a mentoring program dedicated to empowering women and girls, I have a responsibility to understand the full landscape of mentoring programs in Boston and across the Commonwealth. I also have a duty to collaborate with other programs to coordinate services. Comprehensive research like Mass Mentoring Counts helps me, it helps my colleagues, and most importantly, it helps all of us to better serve young people.

Meet our runners: Maggie Lapan

For the second year in a row, Mass Mentoring Partnership is honored to be an official charity partner of the B.A.A. Boston Marathon® on April 16. We want you to meet our amazing runners. Let’s go Team MMP!

Runner: Maggie Lapan

Maggie Lapan

Longest run to date: 18.5 miles
Favorite song to listen to while running: Dynamite by Taio Cruz because “I want to celebrate and live my life” is an awesome running mantra.
Favorite post-run snack: Buffalo chicken sandwich on wheat with extra sauce!

1. Why did you choose to run the 2012 Boston Marathon for MMP?

I learned about MMP through Facebook and my connection with Strong Women Strong Girls. I used to volunteer with SWSG, and it was by chance that I saw the Facebook posting and decided to get involved! I knew it was a good match because of the passion I felt for the mentoring I did at SWSG.

2. What has been the most rewarding experience of your training and/or fundraising so far?

It is very difficult to choose just one thing, but something that has been really special is that everyone on Team MMP and the entire Marathon Coalition has been so supportive and encouraging. Often I am the last person to finish a run, and if I had a penny for each person that encouraged me, I would be able to buy a treadmill and then I could practice running faster!

3. Why do you think it is important for youth to have mentors?

I think a mentor is someone who supports you as you go along with your daily life. The impact of a mentor can truly be seen once when you start to miss the encouragement and support of that person. I think having a mentor keeps kids accountable. If they know someone will ask them how school is going, they can be proud of what they report back.

4. What is the best piece of advice a mentor can give?

Give encouragement and praise as much as possible!

5. Complete this sentence: When I finish the marathon, I will feel…

Very full! It will be overwhelming but it will feel like the beginning of a whole new chapter! I also have aspirations to become a Big Sister after being inspired by so many of my teammates who are mentors.

If you would like to read more about Maggie or make a donation to her fundraising, please visit http://www.razoo.com/story/Mags

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.