Winning Futures – Inspiring and preparing youth to succeed through mentoring.

Archive for January, 2011

First Lady Michelle Obama speaking at the 2011 National Mentoring Summit

Yesterday I attended the National Mentoring Summit at the Library of Congress in Washington DC. Michelle Obama spoke and issued a challenge to companies to get involved by donating and having employees get time off during the day to mentor.

Pass the word!

Winter can be lonely for some teens, especially those who are coping with family issues, a recent loss of a loved one, and whose families are experiencing economic hardship. Something as little as receiving positive encouragement in the mail from someone who cares about them can help build a mentoring relationship.

When working in mentoring teams it is important to build synergy. Winning Futures encourages mentors to do bi-monthly letter writing to keep the synergy flowing in between mentoring sessions.

Letter writing can be as simple as a post-it note on a magazine, article,  to a poem, to a personalized letter.  Buy a handful of cards with different messages and themes. Mail those out once a month to make letter writing easier for you!

Winning Futures Mentee with Mentor

Ever since I joined the Winning Futures Program, I have learned better values and how to be a better me.  More and more students these days are misguided and need someone to help guide them when their parents are not there all the time.  They are not pushed to their full potential or there is something holding them back, like family problems.

~Rani, 12th grade Winning Futures Student

During January 2011 we celebrate the everyday, ordinary people who are making a difference for kids…Mentors!

Winning Futures is celebrating National Mentoring Month by asking all mentees and teachers to nominate mentors for the “Mentor of the Year Award”.  The nomination letters are then presented on January 25th as a gift to the mentors.

Here are 10 things to do in January to help celebrate NATIONAL MENTORING MONTH:

1. Become a mentor in your community.
2. Learn more about mentoring.
3. Partner with a mentoring organization.
4. Tell 5 friends about National Mentoring Month.
5. Think about the mentors in your life and post a tribute to them online.
6. Read the latest research and find resources on mentoring.
7. Serve your community on MLK Day of Service by deciding to become a mentor.
8. Make a donation to a mentoring organization in your community.
9. Go to YouTube on Thank Your Mentor Day™ (January 25) and make the National Mentoring Month videos the most popular of the day.
10. Explore ways to help children succeed academically through mentoring.

To learn more about National Mentoring Month, Mentor Michigan is offering a 2011 Michigan Mentoring Month Tool Kit. The tool kit contains resources and ideas to help local mentoring programs promote their activities, thank their mentors, and recruit new mentors.  You can also visit the National Mentoring Parnership website for more ideas.

Mentor Danielle Urbieta with mentees

My mentees and I joined the Harper Woods City Officials in ushering in the holidays at the City’s Annual Tree Lighting Ceremony at City Hall.

We had a really nice time singing holiday music and admiring the beautiful tree.  To top the festive event, we enjoyed cookies and chocolate milk.

~Daniela is a second year mentor with Winning Futures