Mass Mentoring Partnership

Lunch & Learn with MMP - Advocacy
2024-01-16 12:00 - 13:00 (America/New_York) | Virtual
Lunch & Learn Sessions – meet the third Tuesday of each month. The event may take the form of networking, a time to get deeper in conversation with others who value and support mentoring relationships or they may offer short spurts of information on updated research, happenings and/or tools. We welcome you as often as you can join us.

The purpose of this session is to demystify the process by which state government functions and to encourage civic participation by programs and their participants. MMP’s Advocacy session supports individuals to develop their personal policy and advocacy skills to become more civically engaged citizens and effective advocates for the issues they care about. This session is a free skill and professional development opportunity open to anyone interested in attending. While the session is tailored to programs that support mentoring relationships, the skills and issues covered in this training can be applied universally to educate, advocate, and effectively influence policymaking.

Join us for an engaging discussion as we hear from two of our Mentoring Matching Grants recipients as they share their experiences as youth advocates. They will discuss the importance of advocacy for mentoring programs at the state level alongside one of the most influential lobbyists in the state on behalf of the Charles Group Lobbying Firm.

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Social Emotional Learning - Falmouth MA
2024-01-11 10:00 - 13:00 | Falmouth Public Library, 300 Main Street, Falmouth, MA, 02540, United States
Social Emotional Learning (SEL) Training: Join us at our Social Emotional Learning (SEL) training, where you’ll gain valuable insights into how SEL can help students develop skills essential for success in school, career, and life. At the heart of this training is the understanding that building strong, supportive relationships with students is key to promoting their social and emotional wellbeing. Our trainer will provide you with a framework for understanding SEL and share practical suggestions for implementing SEL practices in out-of-school-time (OST) settings. By focusing on our own social and emotional skills, we can model and support SEL growth in young people, helping them become thriving and engaged adults. Don’t miss out on this opportunity to deepen your relationships with students and take concrete actions to improve their social and emotional learning.
This event is in-person at the Falmouth Public Library in Falmouth, MA.

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Youth Mental Health & Well-Being
2024-01-10 10:00 - 12:00 | Virtual
Adolescence is a crucial period for developing and maintaining the habits important for mental health and well-being, but some adolescents are at greater risk of mental health conditions due to their living conditions, stigma, discrimination or exclusion, or lack of access to quality support and services. This is why mentoring is so critical. A supportive adult presence – that allows for a shared connection and vulnerability – contributes to positive growth and adaptation, nearly fours years after COVID entered our lives. Come and learn how to promote resiliency among young people in this training, targeted to direct service youth workers and mentors.

Learning Objectives: Participants will identify many of the mental health issues that youth are currently facing with particular mention of the rise in both isolation and suicide in the US at this time. Participants will expand their understanding of the general & specific things one can do about it in their role as mentor. Participants will examine the role that their culture plays in understanding how best to respond to young people when they are struggling. Participants will increase their understanding of the role that caring relationships with adults can have on a young person’s overall sense of well-being.

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Cultural Responsiveness - Part 2
2023-12-21 09:30 - 12:00 | Virtual
Building on the work from Cultural Responsiveness Part 1, participants will take a deeper dive into actionable, culturally responsive practices to increase their capacity to serve youth. This training will also explore organizational practices to support participants to structure programming to support equity and belonging for all youth.
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POSTPONED - The Mentoring Institute: Matching and Supporting with Care
2023-12-19 09:30 - 11:30 | Virtual
Learn from MMP staff and each other about the most effective practices to help mentors and mentees build and sustain successful relationships with each other. This introductory training will focus on topics ranging from communication and feedback between mentors, mentees, and staff on difficult issues to cultural diversity issues that arise in mentoring relationships.
Note: This event has been postponed. We will share the new date in early January.

Supporting Black & Brown Girls - Information Session
2023-12-13 12:00 - 13:00 | Virtual
MMP has some exciting news about a movement we are part of. Along with MENTOR, MMP will be leading three events next summer, 2024. This includes a summit for self-identified Black and Brown women and girls, a mentor training for mentors who work with Black & Brown girls, and a train the trainer (ToT) for originations who want to lead this Supporting Black & Brown Girls trainings within their organizations and communities. Please attend this informational meeting to find out how you can be participate!

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Healing Happens: Trauma Informed Practices
2023-12-12 10:00 - 13:00 | Virtual
Many youth in our communities have experienced trauma, the effects of which can be long-lasting and significant and can create barriers. Many youth have also experienced healing, the effects of which can be long-lasting and significant and can create opportunities. This training includes a review of key terms and language and shares trauma-informed care & healing practices which can be employed to promote both resiliency and self-care. With a better understanding of trauma & healing and its impact on youth, staff can structure programming that leverages the resilience possessed by youth and promotes healing environments.

Goals & Objectives

Participants will expand their view of trauma informed care to encompass the importance and presence of healing.
Participants will gain skills to promote healing in their work with young people
Participants will identify healing in the lives of young people who have experienced trauma.

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Introduction to Cultural Responsiveness
2023-12-06 09:30 - 12:00 | Virtual
The ability to connect across cultures is key to supporting our work with youth and caregivers. This interactive training will help participants understand dimensions of identity and culture and the ways that prejudices and bias hamper opportunities for connection in mentoring relationships. This introductory training helps program staff explore personal dynamics of power and privilege and begin to develop strategies to increase our personal capacity to practice cultural responsiveness.
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Research Corner with Mike Garringer - Who Mentored You?
2023-11-28 13:00 - 15:00 | Virtual
Who Mentored You? is an expansive research report on the mentoring movement in the United States. Utilizing data from over 2,600 Americans, the study offers a fresh multigenerational look at the mentoring experiences of all Americans and explores the questions:

What is the scope and impact of mentoring relationships?
Who is finding the mentoring they need?
Who is being left behind?

ABOUT THE RESEARCH/SPEAKER
Michael Garringer serves as the Senior Director of Research and Quality for MENTOR, overseeing original research projects, as well as those related to the translation of mentoring research into program practice. Garringer has worked in the mentoring and education fields for 25 years, leading training, product development, and evaluation projects that highlight the prevalence & impact of mentoring across the United States.

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Join the Network Keepsake Sweepstakes!
2023-11-28 08:00 - 2023-12-04 17:00
Make An Impact on the mentoring movement in your community by helping us GROW!
This Giving Tuesday, we are asking for your help to increase MMP’s reach across Massachusetts.
In return, be entered to win our keepsake sweepstakes!
Join our network, and be entered to win a one-of-a-kind portrait session with the team at Mallory Portraits in Portsmouth, NH, plus an overnight stay for four at the AC Hotel Downtown Portsmouth, NH.

TO ENTER:
1.Visit our website, and submit the form to JOIN OUR NETWORK. You are done!
2. Already in our Network?? No problem! SHARE our Giving Tuesday post to your stories on social media, and tag us (@massmentoring) to be entered!

Sweepstakes will run from 11AM Tuesday, November 28th, 2023 through 5PM on Monday, December 4th, 2023. Winner will be announced Tuesday, December 5th, 2023. No purchase necessary to enter. One entry per person. Limitations for booking portrait session and hotel stay may apply, Full package details to be provided to sweepstakes winner.

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DONATIONS on Giving Tuesday, and year-round, help to support the GROWTH of programming and educational resources for the field of mentoring.

DONATE to MMP!

ASOST Empowering Youth Adult Relationships (EYAR)
2023-11-21 09:30 - 11:30 | Virtual
Building on the work of the Search Institute, this training will prepare adults to develop relationships that powerfully and positively shape young people’s identities that help them develop thriving mindsets and create opportunities for young people to share their opinions, thoughts, and voice in programming. This interactive training is designed to build knowledge, skills, and attitudes that enhance the capacity of adults to connect and to support the development of empowering youth-adult relationships.

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The Mentoring Institute: Screening for Success
2023-11-16 14:30 - 16:00 | Virtual
The Mentoring Institute: Screening for Success
This interactive training draws on the most up-to-date research on the qualities and characteristics that can be sought and nurtured in volunteers to help them to build successful mentoring relationships. Participants will learn current screening practices and tools, and monitoring process to maximize safety for youth as recommended by the Elements of Effective Practice, the nationally recognized standards in the field.

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Note: Registration for The Mentoring Institute: Best Practices for Recruitment and Screening for Success are the same – if you would like to sign up for only one portion of the session, you can do so while selecting your ticket type.

The Mentoring Institute: Best Practices in Recruitment
2023-11-16 13:00 - 14:30 | Virtual
The Mentoring Institute: Best Practices in Recruitment
This training provides participants with basic principles for marketing a mentoring program and recruiting volunteers to mentor youth. Topics include how to develop a year-round recruitment plan that includes goals, marketing and outreach strategies, and success measures; develop a persuasive plan to promote a mentoring program and recruit the right volunteers; and more easily access resources and build relationships for marketing and mentor recruitment.

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Note: Registration for The Mentoring Institute: Best Practices for Recruitment and Screening for Success are the same – if you would like to sign up for only one portion of the session, you can do so while selecting your ticket type.

Lunch & Learn with MMP Series - The Mentoring Connector
2023-11-14 12:00 - 13:00 | Virtual
Nov. 14 this month join Mass Mentoring as we share the updated national data base for mentoring programs, The Mentoring Connector. Learn what it is, how it can help your organization find volunteer mentors, as well as how to get into the system.

Lunch & Learn Sessions – meet the third Tuesday of each month. The event may take the form of networking, a time to get deeper in conversation with others who value and support mentoring relationships or they may offer short spurts of information on updated research, happenings and/or tools. We welcome you as often as you can join us.
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Nature Therapy as a Form of Mindfulness
2023-11-08 12:00 - 13:30 | Virtual
Forest Bathing in the social media age virtual presentation
By Todd Lynch, Association of Nature and Forest Therapy certified guide

Come join Todd Lynch on a virtual experience of Forest Bathing. Todd will share why Forest Bathing is relevant today to help empower young people to restore resilience and connection within themselves and their communities. You will learn the background of the practice as well as some of the latest research around the benefits of greenspace on our physical and psychological well-being. Todd will also share some ways to explore the practice on your own. A Forest Bathing walk grants us the opportunity to slow down and allow our bodies to engage all of our senses. Forest Bathing re-aligns our rhythms with the landscape, allowing our senses a respite from everyday demands and uncertainties. It’s a chance to remember ourselves and the joyful relationships that await us outside.

May I walk everyday on the banks of the water, may my soul rest on the branches of trees which I planted, may I refresh myself under the shadow of my sycamore.
– Egyptian tomb inscription from 1400 BCE

Program Outline:
Welcome
A slideshow review of the practice,
Short, guided experience
Tea together.

Participants would need to bring/have:
An object they’ve found outdoors, a plant or a view out the window.
A cup/mug of water/tea/coffee

What does forest bathing have to do with mentoring?
If you were at the recent Research Corner with Dr. Sherry Hamby, you learned about the value of resiliency dosage. What can we do – as caring adults – to foster a young person’s resiliency dosage? A number of ways, especially sharing and making accessible mindfulness techniques. Guess what? Nature therapy is a tried and true method of being calm and quiet amongst the trees. Observing nature around you whilst breathing deeply can help both adults and children de-stress and boost health and wellbeing in a natural way. And it’s FREE!

Todd Lynch Bio

Todd is a certified Forest and Nature Therapy guide. He received this credential through the Association of Forest and Nature Therapy training program. It is a 6-month intensive course that includes pre- requisites in Wilderness First Aid/CPR as well as native plant identification. As an artist and landscape designer, Todd has collaborated on healing gardens, native, medicinal plantings and art installations across the US. He lives in Western Massachusetts. He has received multiple Massachusetts Cultural Council grants for environmental art installation and education. Todd has also lectured at universities, garden organizations and apothecaries about medicinal plants in the landscape and has served as a design critic at the Conway School of Landscape Design, Smith College and UMass Amherst. He blogs about the intersections of landscape, wellness and art on Instagram @ecotropy.
Visit
www.ecotropy.net to learn more.
For more information please contact Todd:
413.320.2736
todd@ecotropy.net

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Cheers to Mentoring!
2023-11-01 18:00 - 21:00 | The Sporting Club, Omni Hotels Seaport, 450 Summer St, Boston, MA, 02210, United States
Join us Wednesday, November 1, 2023 at The Sporting Club at Omni Seaport to celebrate the power of mentoring at MMP’s Cheers to Mentoring annual event. Details to come! To inquire about sponsorship opportunities, please contact Amanda Doyle-Bouvier, Chief Advancement Officer, at adoylebouvier@massmentors.org.

Cheers to Mentoring Website
Cheers Sponsorship
Purchase Tickets

Motivational Interviewing for Everyday Use
2023-10-18 13:00 - 17:00 | Zoom
Motivational Interviewing for Everyday Use
Audience: All audiences, mentors, youth workers, and staff responsible for training, volunteers, and community partners
Presented by: Kaydance Scotto, Jac Essing, Ilani Ortiz, and Matt Ashby
DIAL/SELF AmeriCorps
Presenter profile:
Kaydance Scotto, Jac Essing, Ilani Ortiz, and Matt Ashby run the DIAL/SELF AmeriCorps program in Western Massachusetts. DIAL/SELF AmeriCorps (DSAP) collaborates with local schools and youth-serving agencies to create developmental opportunities for connection, contribution, and growth. DSAP Members are trained to use the conversational skills of “motivational interviewing”, alongside Positive Youth Development, to support young people in setting goals and activating the resources they have for making progress on them. Kaydance, Jac, Ilani, and Matt have a combined 24 years of experience as AmeriCorps members and staff. They have been training members and site partners in the use of Motivational Interviewing for the past 7 years.
Motivational Interviewing (MI) has been used in clinical settings for over 30 years. In recent years, MI has been adapted to serve nonclinical settings, as well. DIAL/SELF AmeriCorps has been training members and site partners to use MI to support young people in developing a stronger sense of self-efficacy in pursuit of learning goals. Members have successfully incorporated MI in a variety of settings, from drop-in centers and afterschool programs to academic classrooms and creative programming. This workshop will provide practical information and hands-on skill-building activities for using MI to support young people with setting goals, activating resources to achieve them, and increasing their sense of autonomy, connectedness, and confidence in their ability to pursue their goals.
Learning objectives:

Participants will learn the spirit/principles of MI and concrete skills to implement.
Participants will have the opportunity to practice MI, bring their experiences to the table, and gain familiarity with the basic techniques.
Participants will build understanding of how MI can be adapted for meaningful use in multiple contexts.

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Lunch & Learn Sessions: Sherry Hamby
2023-10-17 12:00 - 13:00 | Zoom
Lunch n’ Learn Sessions – meet the third Tuesday of each month. The event may take the form of networking, a time to get deeper in conversation with others who value and support mentoring relationships or they may offer short spurts of information on updated research, happenings and/or tools. We welcome you as often as you can join us.

Date of Lunch & Learns:
Oct. 17 – Come meet with Sherry Hamby to dive into longer, deeper conversations about the Research Corner material shared. Share your lunch hour with Sherry to further what we learned.
Nov. 14
Dec (none)
Jan. 16
Feb. 20
Mar. 19
Apr. 16
May 21
Jun.18

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Research Corner with Sherry Hamby
2023-10-12 09:00 - 15:00 | Sheraton Framingham Hotel and Conference Center, 1657 Worcester Road, Framingham, MA, 01701, United States
Join us for an interactive presentation from Sherry Hamby at MMP’s Research Corner, where we’ll dive into “The Resilience Equation”
A growing body of research, focused on what makes people resilient in the face of adversity, shows that prevention — efforts to help young people build community connections and strengthen their emotional health — can go a long way toward helping youth by insulating them from traumatic events before they happen.
We know that caring adults help youth cope with stress, manage conflict and nurture healthy relationships. Young people also need communities where they can find mentors, activities that give them purpose or even natural spaces. Mentoring programs that connect young people and adults promote well-being. These can also build bridges between teens, educators and community leaders to work together to address problems before they escalate.
Join us on October 12th to hear from Sherry Hamby, Director at the Life Paths Research Center as she shares about proven, evidence-based strategies that can help young people thrive. Setting these in motion — with the help of educators, family medical practitioners and youth program leaders, to name a few — is not about creating a single program for a singularly troublesome moment in time. It is about investing in our children and young people now and into the future with a steady effort informed and constantly improved by new evidence-based science.
Agenda
9:00 MMG Kick-off Meeting (for Mentoring Matching Grantees only)
9:30 General Registration Opens
10:00 Research Corner Welcome
11:00 Conversation with Dr. Sherry Hamby
12:30 Lunch
1:30 Break-out Sessions
2:30 Closing
We invite you to keep the conversation going with MMP and Dr. Hamby on Tuesday, October 17th at our first monthly virtual Lunch and Learn Series.

ABOUT THE SPEAKER
Sherry Hamby, Ph.D. is an award-winning researcher and psychologist who is known for her work on trauma and resilience. She is currently the Distinguished Research Professor of Psychology at the University of the South and Director of the Life Paths Research Center. She is also the founder of ResilienceCon. Dr. Hamby has worked for more than 30 years to reduce the burden of trauma, including front-line crisis intervention and treatment, involvement in grassroots organizations, and research leading to the publication of more than 200 articles and books. Dr. Hamby’s work has appeared in the Washington Post, USA Today, Huffington Post, CBS News, Psychology Today, and hundreds of other media outlets. Her awards include Outstanding Contributions to the Science of Trauma Psychology from the American Psychological Association (APA). Her newest book, with Victoria Banyard, is Strengths-Based Prevention: Reducing Violence & Other Public Health Problems (APA Books, 2022). Check out her TEDx talk, Trauma Is Everywhere But So Is Resilience.

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DEADLINE: Youth Leadership Council Application
2023-10-10
Learn more about the YLC

2023-2024 YLC Application
Applications are due by 9 PM on Monday, October 10th!

MMP Connects Regional Meetings: Self Care - Northern MA
2023-09-29 10:00 - 12:00 | Lawrence Public Library, Robert Frost Room, 51 Lawrence St., 2nd Floor, Lawrence, MA, 01841, United States
The Mass Mentoring team is buzzing with anticipation as we gear up for the upcoming school season. Join us for an engaging session at the MMP Connects Regional Meeting, where we’ll delve into the crucial theme of “Self Care” and its profound impact on our work with young people.
Beyond providing a platform for networking and fostering professional development, this event offers an exclusive sneak peek into Mass Mentoring Partnership’s upcoming calendar.
Unveiling a wealth of valuable opportunities and resources tailored to advance your professional journey and enhance your services, this preview is not to be missed. Additionally, organizations will have ample chance for networking and collaboration.

Mark your calendar for the region you wish to attend:
Western Mass September 26 (Tues.), from 10am-12pm at the Holyoke Public Library, 250 Chestnut St, Holyoke MA 01040

Southern Mass September 27 (Wed.) 10am-12pm at Converge Center, 1367 Main St. Brockton, MA 02301 Brockton

Boston/Greater Boston September 28 (Thurs.), 10am-12pm at Boston Partners in Education, 192 South St, Ste 650, Boston MA 02111 Boston

Northern Mass September 29 (Fri.), 10am-12pm at Lawrence Public Library Robert Frost Room – 2nd Floor 51 Lawrence St. Lawrence, MA 01841

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MMP Connects Regional Meetings: Self Care - Greater Boston/Boston MA
2023-09-28 10:00 - 12:00 | Boston Partners in Education, 192 South St., STE 650, Boston, MA, 02111, United States

MMP Connects Regional Meeting: Self Care - Southern MA
2023-09-27 10:00 - 12:00 | Converge Christian Center, 1367 Main St., Brockton, MA, 02301, United States

MMP Connects Regional Meetings: Self Care - Western MA
2023-09-26 10:00 - 12:00 | Holyoke Public Library, 250 Chestnut Street, Holyoke, MA, 01040, United States

Rodman Ride for Kids!
2023-09-23 09:00 - 16:00 | Schneider Electric, 38 Neponset Ave, Foxboro, MA, 02035, United States
Register to ride or choose your own adventure, or to donate to Team MMP! Learn more:
Rodman Ride

DEADLINE: ALKU Scholarship
2023-07-17
The deadline to apply for the 2023 ALKU Scholarship award is 11:59 PM on July 17, 2023.

Learn More and Apply

DEADLINE: Mentoring Matching Grants Application
2023-06-05 17:00 | Virtual
June 5, 2023 at 5 PM is the deadline for Mentoring Matching Grants applications for the FY24-25 cycle.

MMG RFP, Application, and Info Session

ASOST Supporting Immigrant Youth
2023-05-16 09:30 - 12:30 | Virtual
The Supporting Youth Immigrants Training aims to increase participants’ awareness and understanding of the unique challenges faced by immigrant youth in Massachusetts. With approximately one in five children being immigrants, it is crucial for youth workers to be equipped with the necessary knowledge and skills to support this group effectively. This training will delve into the experiences of immigrant youth, with a particular focus on the power of empowering relationships in supporting their emotional and social well-being. Participants will learn about the specific needs of immigrant youth and gain practical strategies to create inclusive and responsive programming that meets their needs. By the end of the training, participants will have a better understanding of how to support immigrant youth and create safe and supportive spaces where they can thrive.

This training is provided at no cost for ASOST grantees thanks to generous funding from the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education.

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ASOST Social Emotional Learning
2023-05-11 09:30 - 12:30 | Virtual
Social Emotional Learning (SEL) Training: Join us at our Social Emotional Learning (SEL) training, where you’ll gain valuable insights into how SEL can help students develop skills essential for success in school, career, and life. At the heart of this training is the understanding that building strong, supportive relationships with students is key to promoting their social and emotional wellbeing. Our trainer will provide you with a framework for understanding SEL and share practical suggestions for implementing SEL practices in out-of-school-time (OST) settings. By focusing on our own social and emotional skills, we can model and support SEL growth in young people, helping them become thriving and engaged adults. Don’t miss out on this opportunity to deepen your relationships with students and take concrete actions to improve their social and emotional learning.

This training is provided at no cost for ASOST grantees thanks to generous funding from the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education.

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MMG RFP Info Session
2023-05-05 10:00 - 11:00 | Virtual
MMP Mentor Matching Grant is funding that is distributed to programs and managed by Mass Mentoring Partnership. These funds come from a budget line item of the state budget distributed to the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education DESE). Every two years, MMP releases a competitive Request for Proposals (RFP). This information is an opportunity to walk through the RFP and hear about the requirements and deliverables outlined in the RFP. This session is NOT required for applicants.

The RFP can be viewed on our website after April 26, 2023. Responses to this RFP are due to MMP on June 5, 2023 by 5:00 PM.

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