CONNECTED FUTURES: Foundational Support for Future Growth
Connected Futures is an eight-week program, developed to meet the growing needs of workforce development/career readiness programs, Youth Leadership programs, High School & Middle School group & individual mentoring programs, and school based programs.
Adapted from the Connected Scholars program, originally designed by Dr. Sarah Schwartz, and additionally pulling from the work of Julia Freeland Fisher on Social Capital and Dr. Torie Weiston-Serdan’s Critical Mentoring, Connected Futures was designed to help address the disadvantages that first-generation college students face by allowing them the space and providing them the tools to work on identifying and engaging potential educational and career mentors. The curriculum was developed with the following foundational concepts in mind:
- Being aware of the real struggles youth and their families are facing
- an emphasis on anti-racism and critical thinking (DEI)
- Adherence to youth development principles
- Understanding professionalism as a racialized/gendered/classized concept
- Examining the difference between collaboration vs competition
- Acknowledging that systemic/institutional barriers exist
At its core, the Connected Futures curriculum is heavily focused on the goal of creating a safe environment to discuss group loyalty/group shame, while moving away from the notion of relationships as transactional, and towards viewing relationships as transformative.
The Connected Futures curriculum is composed of 8 sessions with the last session being a celebration involving mentors and mentees. Each session is comprised of the following segments:
- Opening quote
- Warm up exercise
- Lesson Plan
- Tree of Life Activity
- Thinking Reflection
- Mentor Conversation Starter
A unique differentiator for Connected Futures is the incorporation of the Tree of Life. During the 8-week session, participants will reference and interact with the idea of the tree of life as metaphor, as it represents the different aspects of our lives. The opportunity presents itself for the participant to learn more about themselves, while looking at the past, the present, and what they hope for in the future.
Interested in learning more about whether this program could be right for your group?
Please contact rmcmahan@massmentors.org
Interested in learning more about the work that has formed the foundation for Connected Futures?
Julia Freeland Fisher
Who You know: Expanding Unlocking Innovations That Expand Students’ Networks
Dr. Torie Weiston-Serdan