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 Spotlight on Mentoring
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What Waiting for "Superman" Means for Mentoring
 The much buzz-about documentary, Waiting for "Superman", is currently available for viewing in Michigan (more on that in a moment). The film, which highlights challenges in the American public education system, has been lauded as a powerful call-to-action to address the current condition of U.S. public schools.
As a result, viewers are flocking to www.waitingforsuperman.com to discover how they can make a difference. The website admits there is no single solution to fixing our country's education system, but showcases the steps you can take to help ensure every child gets a great education. These steps include: writing your school board, writing your governor or candidates, acting locally, donating resources, becoming informed, joining the debate, volunteering, or MENTORING.
At www.waitingforsuperman.com, individuals can enter their ZIP code to find local mentoring opportunities through MENTOR's Volunteer Referral System of 5,000 mentoring programs, mentoring partnerships, and volunteer centers throughout the country. Subsequently, interested individuals could get connected to programs in Michigan!
MENTOR, and other national partners, believes the film and follow-up dialogue will inform and help people understand that mentoring is one powerful solution to keeping kids in school. They're encouraging state mentoring partnerships and local programs to build awareness about Waiting for "Superman", pledge to see the film, and prepare for the response. For resources on how to do so, click here.
In addition to this effort, MENTOR has partnered with Big Brothers Big Sisters of America and Mentoring USA in the recently-launched Academic Achievement through Mentoring initiative. It aims to link potential mentors with young people in the 2,000 lowest-performing schools in the country. These two activities help spark a national conversation about the children of America's future and the dropout crisis.
How can you help?
There are two major things you can do to support the efforts surrounding Waiting for "Superman" in Michigan. The documentary is currently available for viewing in the Detroit area, Grand Rapids, and Lansing. Visit www.waitingforsuperman.com and click on "Now Playing in Select Theaters" to purchase tickets.
Secondly, MENTOR and Mentoring USA want to gauge the amount of interest and action in mentoring your program may experience as a result of the attention surrounding this film. They're asking for programs to complete an online survey - http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/wfsuperman - to help them establish a baseline measure to determine the impact the film has on increasing the number of people who step forward to be a mentor.
Thank you in advance for your participation in this effort.
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MENTOR Launches New Website
 If you haven't checked out MENTOR: The National Mentoring Partnership's website in quite some time, you might want to. The site, located at www.mentoring.org has been completely updated and revamped - making it more user-friendly and accessible.
Features of the site include information on how to start a mentoring program, resources for existing programs, connections for becoming a mentor, and the latest news and research affecting the field. As MENTOR celebrates its 20th anniversary, check out this resource that aims to expand the world of quality mentoring.
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2011 Michigan Mentoring Month - Pass It On
 The annual Michigan Mentoring Month is quickly approaching - and with it the opportunity to recognize the impact of volunteer mentors, recruit additional individuals to serve, and celebrate the efforts of mentoring matches across the state. What better time to help "Pass It On" than this January?
Mentor Michigan encourages all mentoring programs in the state to get involved in the 2011 Michigan Mentoring Month. Whether you choose to conduct a recruitment fair in your community in an effort to engage more volunteers, hold a evening of recognition to formally thank your mentors, or coordinate a service project for your mentoring matches to participate in; we're sure there's a way you can shine a spotlight on mentoring this winter.
As the statewide mentoring initiative in Michigan, we're here to help you get involved! Please visit www.mentormichigan.org to view our 2011 Michigan Mentoring Month Toolkit, full of resources and information to help your coordinate activities or promotional efforts. Or listen to one of our free archived webinars (available for sign-up here: https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/887747867) to learn more about statewide and national Mentoring Month efforts.
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Annual Fall Conference Offers Much to Mentoring Field
 The Fifth Annual Michigan's Premier Mentoring Conference will be Wednesday, November 17 on the campus of Michigan State University in East Lansing. Join mentoring professionals from around the state for the opportunity to interact with leading authorities who will discuss best practices, quality enhancement, and other topics that will help you give our youth the very best mentoring programs available.
Participants will also engage in interactive workshops based on new and effective practices in the field of youth mentoring and have ample opportunity to network with your colleagues. Workshop topics will include: Engaging Your Mentoring Program in College Access Initiatives; Marketing and Networking Skills for Mentor and Donor Recruitment; Mining Assets to Sustain Mentoring Programs; Orienting and Training Mentors: Quality Components and Ready-to-Use Activities; School or Site Based Mentoring - Ideas for Making Every Minute Count!; Going the Distance: Supporting and Retaining Mentors; Understanding the Evidence Supporting School-Based Mentoring; Mentoring as a Tool to Encourage Youth Access to College; Understanding the Angry, Adopted, and Abandoned Heart; Cross-Aged (Peer) Mentoring Programs; and Mentoring Hard-to-Reach Youth: Finding the Right Mentors and Getting Them Ready.
This year's keynote speaker is Michael Karcher, Professor of Education and Human Development at the University of Texas at San Antonio. Dr. Karcher is co-editor of the Handbook of Youth Mentoring, which received the "Best Edited Book 2006" award from the Society for Research on Adolescence. He received a doctorate in Human Development and Psychology from Harvard University and a doctorate in Counseling Psychology from the University of Texas at Austin. He conducts research on school-based and cross-age peer mentoring, serves on several mentoring program/agency advisory boards, including the Research and Policy Council of MENTOR/The National Mentoring Partnership.
There's still time to register online for this opportunity. To do so, click here.
CEUs Offered at Conference
Mentor Michigan is excited to announce they are offering Continuing Education Units (CEUs) at the 5th Annual Michigan's Premier Mentoring Conference being held on November 17th at the Kellogg Hotel & Conference Center. Mentor Michigan, in partnership with Jewish Family Service of Metropolitan Detroit, has applied for CEUs for those who are interested. Participants must sign in, attend the full conference, complete an evaluation, and sign out of each workshop in order to receive a Certificate of Course Attendance that will verify the attainment of CEU's for this conference. Any participant not fulfilling these requirements will not receive a certificate. Failure to sign in or out, or being absent for more than 10 minutes per hour of scheduled workshops, will result in forfeiture of credit for the entire conference. Attendance certificates will be distributed at the end of the conference. There is a $15 fee to receive 5.0 CEU.Payments must be made the day of the conference via cash or check. Anyone interested in pursuing a CEU at the 5th Annual Michigan's Premier Mentoring Conference should plan on bringing a photo ID and emailing Kathie Vasilion Robinson at robinsonk12@michigan.gov prior to the Conference. Jewish Family Service of Metropolitan Detroit is an approved provider with the Michigan Social Work Continuing Education Collaborative. Approved provider number: MICEC-0011. This program has been approved by the Michigan Continuing Education Collaborative and will provide a maximum of 5.0 continuing education clock hours/units for Licensed Social Workers (LMSW or LBSW).
Pre-Conference Session Also Available
Please also consider joining Mentor Michigan for a pre-conference session on Tuesday, November 16 discussing research and evaluation. David DuBois, Ph.D. will be presenting three sessions that will provide an in-depth, interactive look at process evaluation, outcome evaluation, and using research to strengthen your mentoring program.
Space is limited to 50 participants. These sessions are more advanced in nature and geared toward mentoring organizations' executive directors, board members, or experienced staff.
The Pre-Conference registration fee is $100 per person. This fee includes lunch, parking and materials. Registration fees are nonrefundable. Submission of the registration is your commitment to pay the registration fee. For more information, click here.
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"Mentoring Night at the Palace" Scheduled for January 22
 On Saturday, January 22, the Detroit Pistons and the Palace at Auburn Hills will celebrate mentoring and they want you to join them! Come participate in the first-ever "Mentoring Night at the Palace" and watch the Pistons take on the Phoenix Suns at 7:30 p.m. Through out the evening a special emphasis will be placed on mentoring.
Tickets are currently available for purchase at a discounted rate. For every ticket sold through this website (https://oss.ticketmaster.com/html/group_corp_start.htmI?l=EN&team=pistons&owner=20190306&group=264&err=&event=&customerID=) Mentor Michigan will receive $5. The money raised will be distributed through a statewide funding opportunity at a later date in the form of Detroit Pistons mini-grants. When purchasing tickets, please be sure to use the keyword "mentor".
This could be a wonderful match activity to celebrate the 2011 Michigan Mentoring Month. You may consider applying for a Meijer Mini-Grant through Mentor Michigan to cover the costs of purchasing tickets for your program. For more information, visit www.mentormichigan.org.
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Local & National Opportunities | |
November 8, 2010
2011 Michigan Mentoring Month Webinar
Online
To register, click here: https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/221485026
November 8, 2010
2011 Martin Luther King, Jr. National Day of Service Webinar
Online
To register, click here: https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/359691146
November 10, 2010
2011 Michigan Mentoring Month Webinar
Online
To register, click here: https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/851926346
November 16, 2010
Fifth Annual Michigan's Premier Mentoring Pre-Conference Session
East Lansing, Michigan
For more information, visit www.mentormichigan.org.
November 17, 2010
Fifth Annual Michigan's Premier Mentoring Conference
East Lansing, Michigan
For more information, visit www.mentormichigan.org.
November 18, 2010
2010 Michigan's AmeriCorps Member Celebration
East Lansing, Michigan
More information will be available in the future.
November 22, 2010
2011 Martin Luther King, Jr. National Day of Service Webinar
Online
To register, click here: https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/395856211
January 2011
10th Annual Michigan/National Mentoring Month
Statewide and Nationwide
For more information, visit www.mentormichigan.org.
January 17, 2011
Martin Luther King, Jr. National Day of Service
Statewide and Nationwide
For more information, visit www.mlkday.gov.
January 22, 2011
Mentoring Night at the Palace
The Palace of Auburn Hills - Michigan
More information is available at www.mentormichigan.org.
January 25, 2011
Thank Your Mentor Day
Statewide and Nationwide
For more information, visit www.mentormichigan.org.
January 31, 2011
Lloyd Carr MVP Mentoring Awards Event
Ann Arbor, Michigan
For more information, visit www.mentormichigan.org.
For more local opportunities, click here.
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Funding Opportunities
Check out the latest funding opportunities available to mentoring organizations:
2010 Meijer Mini Grants
Mentor Michigan is awarding $15,000 in mini-grants to Michigan mentoring organizations to host mentor recognition or recruitment events or activities during Michigan Mentoring Month January 2011. These funds were raised during the Meijer Gift Card Promotion that was held June 18 and 19, 2010. Meijer donated $2 to Mentor Michigan for every $25 or more Meijer gift card that was purchased.
Amount: $100 to $1,000
Deadline: Friday, November12, 2010
Contact: Kathie Vasilion Robinson at robinsonk13@michigan.gov or (517) 373-4200
GTECH After School Advantage Program Grants
The GTECH After School Advantage Program is a national community investment program, which provides non-profit community agencies and public schools with state-of-the-art computer labs.
Amount: Multiple awards of up to $15,000 worth of computers, online technology and computer software.
Deadline: Rolling
Contact: http://www.gtech.com/about_gtech/proposal_guidelines.asp
Pepsi Refresh Project
In 2010, Pepsi will give millions of dollars to fund good ideas that aim to make the world a better place. Each month, Pepsi is giving away $1,300,000 to fund great ideas. Ideas will be accepted in the following categories: health, arts and culture, food and shelter, the planet, neighborhood, and education. Only 1,000 submissions will be accepted each month which will then be eligible for a public vote.
Amount: $5,000 to $250,000
Deadline: Ongoing, started January 2010
Contact: www.refresheverything.com
RARE Everyday Hero Scholarship Program
RARE's mission is to inspire Michigan's youth to see possibilities through real-life examples of Everyday Heroes. At a time when society has lost sight of its real heroes and material things have replaced character as the currency for measuring success, RARE celebrates the lives and life lessons of everyday people in the workplace who through extraordinary commitment, integrity, selflessness, and courage are changing lives and inspiring others. High school seniors who are set to graduate in May or June 2011 can submit an original essay about someone whom they consider to be an Everyday Hero for the chance to win a scholarship.
Amount: $2,500
Deadline: December 1, 2010
Contact: www.RAREfoundation.org
Facebook
To keep up to date with the latest Mentor Michigan and mentoring news, find Mentor Michigan on Facebook. Just visit www.facebook.com/mentormichigan and join other individuals currently following our efforts.
Twitter
For an additional way to stay up to date with the latest Mentor Michigan and mentoring news and information, follow us on Twitter! Search for @MentorMI and read our messages for the mentoring community.
Michigan National Service Directory
Michigan's National Service Directory is a new tool designed to assist national service program staff and members to quickly identify the different groups and organizations in their area that have a similar programmatic focus for the purpose of establishing collaborative partnerships.The Directory may also be used to connect interested individuals with respective national service programs in their area and assist programs in member recruitment. Click here to find local AmeriCorps, Learn and Serve, and/or Senior Corps programs.
Service
Being a mentor is one of the most important things you can do for a child. If you're interested in gaining more information on becoming a mentor or looking for a local mentoring program, visit the Mentor Michigan website to utilize the mentoring program directory. Mentoring programs can be located by ZIP code. For more information, click here.
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Mentor Michigan would like to extend a big "Thank You" to all mentoring programs in Michigan that completed Wave VIII of the Mentor Michigan Census this past September and October. Because of your time and energy we are able to understand the scope and nature of mentoring and mentoring organizations in Michigan. We are also able to identify, count, describe, and track mentoring organizations, programs, mentors, and mentees; understand program components, processes, resources, and needs; and encourage and support program evaluation.
Thank you again - and we look forward to sharing the results of this year's Census with you this January!
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About Mentor Michigan
One hour a week can make a big difference in a young person's future. Mentor Michigan supports nearly 250 organizations around the state that are changing lives by matching mentors with young people. Mentor Michigan provides those organizations with training and research. It fosters partnerships with businesses, faith-based and nonprofit organizations, schools, colleges and universities, and state and local government to support mentoring. Mentor Michigan also builds public awareness about the importance of and the need for mentors by urging caring adults to "Pass It On," because sharing a little of yourself with a young person can reward both of you with lifelong benefits.
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