|
Highland Street Corps News
|
|
|
|
 |
|
Message from the program manager
 As a critical resource dedicated to strengthening and supporting mentoring programs in Massachusetts - and in turn, our communities - the Highland Street Corps Ambassador of Mentoring program is a valuable investment for any program.
Since 2008, each Ambassador has significantly contributed to the mentoring field in Massachusetts by helping to increase program awareness, provide program support, and network with other mentoring programs.
An Ambassador may be responsible for developing a new mentoring program, continuing a pilot program or ensuring that the best practices in the Elements of Effective Practice are being applied. They might also develop a new or improved system around match support. Some projects focus on developing new or better systems around evaluation, while others focus on effective marketing and mentor recruitment strategies, screening mentors appropriately, partnership development or active mentor recruitment. While Ambassadors can focus on any of these areas, they are all individually responsible for helping their host sites to recruit mentors.
In this newsletter, I hope to share with you some of the amazing work that our Corps has accomplished over the past few months.
Sincerely,
Krystal Hope
Program Manager,
Highland Street Corps Ambassadors of Mentoring
|
|
Impacting Roxbury Community College's
mentoring program
Program model: supports first-generation RCC college students with one-to-one mentoring spanning two semesters
Corps involvement: 3 Ambassadors over 4 years
Corps focus: research and program development, program implementation and evaluation, program expansion and revision
Mentoring for Success' accomplishments illustrate how hosting an Ambassador can take a mentoring program from newly created to successfully operating. The Ambassador positions have changed annually, building on the work of the previous Ambassador and in relation to the program's development and growth.
Lise Hagen, the Ambassador at RCC from 2010-12, was responsible for a wide range of duties, including recruiting, training and matching mentors; developing a mentor orientation and training; providing match support to ensure the continuity of the relationships; and more.
Elizabeth Clark, director of student life and student engagement/supervisor of the Mentoring for Success Program, says that determining project scopes for the Ambassadors are based on evaluations of the program throughout the year. They track goals, which help them create new targets for the upcoming year to help strengthen the program or expand in a previously untapped area.
She says their Ambassadors have been key to the growth of the mentoring program. "It has been built from the ground up with the help of Ambassadors and Mass Mentoring. Our Ambassadors have continued to meet and exceed their goals, or have created alternative solutions for goals that were met with challenges."
|
|
|
|
Strengthening the field during National Mentoring Month
National Mentoring Month (January) was an incredibly busy month, as Ambassadors helped with both field-wide events and initiatives, and some Ambassadors tackled special projects at their host sites. Here's a rundown of some of the highlights:
- Partnering with MMP: Programs that apply to become National Mentoring Month (NMM) partners can also apply for small seed money grants to fund their NMM initiatives. One of our current programs, Future Chefs, was an NMM partner, and Ambassador Erin Ross helped to organize a community happy hour at Darryl's Corner Bar and Kitchen. She says, "The money from MMP allowed me to have free appetizers for attendees, and the materials made the event professional and focused."
- Raising awareness: The Corps co-hosted the annual Youth Mentoring Day at the State House, which raised awareness for the youth mentoring movement and celebrated the impact of mentoring relationships. The event honored Rep. William "Smitty" Pignatelli and Sen. Sonia Chang-Diaz with Massachusetts Advocates for Mentoring awards, and the 3rd Annual Ignite Awards were presented to Chad Butt from The DREAM Program, and DePuy Synthes Companies of Johnson & Johnson for their impact on mentoring.
 Additionally, we released our new Mentoring Strengthens Communities video at the Youth Mentoring Forum at State Street at the end of January. It features perspectives of a variety of stakeholders in Massachusetts, including AOM alumna Emily Heaton ('11-'12) of AFC Mentoring and Noreen McMahon of the Highland Street Foundation. - Releasing new research: Ly Nguyen, research and program services associate/Ambassador at MMP, is assisting with Mass Mentoring Counts (MMC), the biennial survey of youth mentoring programs in Massachusetts. She helped compile the survey findings and the initial results were released at the Youth Mentoring Forum at State Street, which targeted key mentoring stakeholders.
- Distributing match activities: Ed Momplaisir, marketing and match activity associate/Ambassador at MMP, helped solicit and distribute a number of match activity opportunities for our NMM program partners, including the 3rd Annual Mentoring Night at TD Garden. Thanks to the generosity of the Boston Celtics Shamrock Foundation, Ed was able to distribute 200 tickets to 21 youth mentoring programs from around Massachusetts.
- Individual program projects: Joceline Fidalgo is serving as an
 Ambassador at the Dudley Street Neighborhood Initiative, which officially launched its pilot mentoring program during NMM. She helped to organized a kick-off celebration, where mentors and mentees met for the first time and participated in a range of fun activities. Read more about her exciting event on our blog!
|
|
Corps accomplishments
 Laura Ogburn, Hyde Square Task Force
Laura has been working on updating the curriculum for their College Exploration Mentoring Program. So far this year, Hyde Square has hosted 12 workshops helping 9th, 10th, and 11th graders prepare to apply for college by 12th grade. Workshop topics include issues like money management, financial aid, study skills, the importance of college, and how to choose the right college.
Nikki Leon, East End House 
This past February, Nikki organized an Iron Chef challenge for mentors and mentees. On Valentine's Day, matches were given surprise ingredients and assigned a particular dish. The challenge was held Feb. 28, and matches made spinach and feta pasta, cream-cheese stuffed cookies, and jalapeno-and peach smoothies. Nikki said it was a great way to reinforce the team-based aspect of East End House, where the matches participate in group activities together.
 Rachael Chambers, For Kids Only Afterschool (FKO)
Rachael is the mentor coordinator at FKO and has been finding ways to recruit volunteers for FKO sites that lack transportation and community exposure. Her recruitment strategies include attending volunteer fairs, posting online, sending emails, spreading word-of-mouth, and developing community partnerships. She has already surpassed the program's mentor recruitment goal of 12 by matching a total of 19 mentors so far!
Amanda Trainor, South Boston T.E.A.M. 
Amanda met this past fall with other like-minded community youth workers and created a group called Teen College and Career Support of Southie. These community workers figure that by pooling resources, they can offer high-school-aged mentees more effective workshops and information sessions on academic achievement and professional development. They also exposed the mentees to new organizations in South Boston so they can make new connections. Mentees have visited new organizations, participated in a community-based art project, and some have participated in a panel for community change in South Boston.
Matt Grady, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Massachusetts Bay (BBBSMB)
Matt's project scope includes creating marketing videos for BBBSMB. He completed one of his videos during National Mentoring Month. The video's  objective targeted corporate recruiting and highlighted the impact of corporate Big Brothers. The video paints an inspiring pictureof three "Bigs" and their matches. The video is featured on BBBSMB's website and has been used in information sessions and email threads to reach a greater audience of corporate men. Check out the video here.
|
|
Alumni successes
 Kate stayed with The Newton Mentoring Alliance following her year of service and is now the match support specialist for both their community-based program and new site-based program, Dreamfar. Kate is also working on her artwork and has commissioned several pieces. She's written and illustrated a children's book, Penguina's Bedtime Story, which hit stores in early March.
Aaron is an employment specialist at Father Bill's & MainSpring, assisting individuals in getting educational and job training skills. He is also a program coordinator at the Brockton Christian Mentoring Initiative, helping to grow and build partnerships. In his free time, he is a motivational speaker and musician, striving to motivate and empower youth. Stephanie now works at Family Service, Inc. (FSI), coordinating the Stand & Deliver after-school youth mentoring program. As of June 1, she will have successfully completed one academic school year for Stand & Deliver!
Natasha Threatts '10-'11, Now at Youth Guidance Chicago, Natasha was recently promoted to community resource coordinator for 21st century funded programs after a year of interning through the Episcopal Service Corp. She is in charge of finding after-school programs and staff, as well as recruiting students. She also serves on school leadership teams and is responsible for coordinating services for families in need.
Carrie is finishing her graduate degree in social work at Boston College. Her major is social innovation and leadership in the area of children, youth, and families. She also interns three days a week at The Boston Foundation in their health and wellness program. She is also busy planning her Aug. 24 wedding. |
|
Special thank-you to alumni
 | | A handful of our valued alumni |
Alumni support is a valuable resource to any mentoring program, and Highland Street Corps alumni continue to support the program - and current members - in a number of ways. Alumni nurture the growth of current Ambassadors by sharing the value of their service experience, spreading awareness about the program, serving alongside the current Corps in service projects, and attending Mass Mentoring Partnership and mentoring program events. Mass Mentoring is grateful for the alumni investment in this program and would like to thank them for their continued contributions and service. |
|
|
|
|
 | |
AmeriCorps alumni celebrating AmeriCorps Week in March
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Stephanie Lanza '11-'12, 
Carrie von Glahn '09-'11, Newton Community Service Center (now 
