MentorChat
By The Mentoring Partnership of SWPA
MentorChatFeb 23, 2021
S3 E5 Taking Care of the Helpers
As we recorded the final episode of this season, our nation was in the grips of tragedy following mass shootings in Buffalo, NY, Orange County, CA and Uvalde, TX. Events like this are heartbreaking and have, unfortunately, become all too common. Now more than ever, it's important for caring adults to be there for young people and to foster open, honest conversations that help them feel safe and supported. Please refer to the Additional Resources for more information on helping young people in the wake of tragedy and trauma.
In this episode, Michelle and Ashley wrap up the season and share a little about what's to come. They talk about how, in order to best support young people and their mental wellbeing, we have to take care of ourselves too. Listen in to hear from some familiar voices about how they practice self care as well as exciting details about the next season!
Additional Resources
The Mentoring Partnership of SWPA
MENTOR's Supporting Youth in the Wake of Trauma
Creating a Mental Health Plan Template
S3 E4 Where Youth Live, Learn, Work, & Play with Brenda Jimenez
Imagine if we surrounded young people with mentors everywhere that they live, learn, work, and play. And not only with new connections, but also through recognizing and building upon the important relationships that are already there! In our last interview of Season 3, we talk with Brenda Jimenez, CEO of MENTOR New York about this potential and more. Listen in to hear about the incredible work happening in New York related to access, racial equity, and being there for young people.
Additional Resources
MENTOR New York | https://www.mentornewyork.org
MENTOR New York's Racial Justice Framework | https://www.mentornewyork.org/racial-equity
Sign up for the Becoming a Better Mentor Live Coffee Chats with Sophia!
https://www.mentoringpittsburgh.org/news_posts/becoming-a-better-mentor-live-coffee-chats
Credits
Hosted, written, and produced by Michelle Thomas & Ashley Wineland with The Mentoring Partnership of SWPA | www.mentoringpittsburgh.org
Music is "Cheery Monday" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) | Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License | http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
S3 E3 Mentoring in the Workplace with Charline Alexandre-Joseph
Entering into the workforce as a young person is tough! In this episode of Mentor Chat, we talk with Charline Alexandre-Joseph, Senior Director of Systems Innovation (formerly Director of Workforce Development) at MENTOR, about recruiting, supporting, and retaining young people in a workplace. This is a conversation relevant to adults, young people, employers, and employees - so don't miss out!
Additional Resources:
Connect | Focus | Grow | https://www.mentoring.org/connect-focus-grow/
MENTOR's Workplace Mentoring | https://www.mentoring.org/resource/workplace-mentoring/
O*NET OnLine | https://www.onetonline.org
Credits:
Hosted, written, and produced by Michelle Thomas & Ashley Wineland with The Mentoring Partnership of SWPA | www.mentoringpittsburgh.org
Music is "Cheery Monday" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) | Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License | http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
S3 E2: Becoming a Better Mentor with Mike Garringer
Wouldn't it be nice if there was a handbook for everything? Well now at least there's a guide for how to be a better mentor to young people! In the first interview of the season, Ashley and Michelle talk with Mike Garringer, Director of Research and Evaluation at MENTOR about MENTOR's new free resource for any adult. Becoming a Better Mentor: Strategies to Be There for Young People is rooted in research, written by experts, and includes real-world advice and strategies for how mentors can “be there” for young people. You don't want to miss this relevant and informative conversation!
Additional Resources:
Becoming a Better Mentor: Strategies to Be There for Young People | https://www.mentoring.org/resource/becoming-a-better-mentor/
Sign up for TMP's Everyday Mentoring Weekly Tips! | https://www.mentoringpittsburgh.org/tips
Credits:
Hosted, written, and produced by Michelle Thomas & Ashley Wineland with The Mentoring Partnership of SWPA | www.mentoringpittsburgh.org
Music is "Cheery Monday" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) | Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License | http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
S3 E1: The Mentoring Movement
You've heard us talk all about mentoring, but what does working in the mentoring field really look like? Who is TMP and what do we do? What's happening in the mentoring movement nationally and in other places around the country? In this introduction to Season 3, Michelle and Ashley provide some context around these questions and lay the groundwork for an exciting season talking with affiliate partners around the country who are pushing the mentoring movement forward!
Additional Resources:
Elements of Effective Practice for Youth Mentoring
Learn about Technical Assistance from TMP
Find out more about all of TMP's trainings!
Credits:
Hosted, written, and produced by Michelle Thomas & Ashley Wineland with The Mentoring Partnership of SWPA | www.mentoringpittsburgh.org
Music is "Cheery Monday" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) | Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License | http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
SPECIAL EPISODE: A National Mentoring Month Conversation with Gregg Behr
January is National Mentoring Month, and in honor of that, we have a special feature episode of Mentor Chat that you don't want to miss! We had the pleasure of sitting down with Gregg Behr to talk about strategies for creating atmosphere's of learning through Everyday Mentoring. In this episode, Gregg touches on Remake Learning Days, defines learning sciences, and shares a cool passion that sparked joy for him during the pandemic and thus inspired some young people in his neighborhood! As National Mentoring Month comes to a close, join us in conversation and reflect on the ways you are helping support the next generation of leaders and change-makers.
Additional Resources:
When You Wonder, You're Learning | http://whenyouwonder.org
Remake Learning | https://remakelearning.org
Thank you to Gregg Behr:
Gregg Behr, executive director of The Grable Foundation, is a father and children’s advocate whose work is inspired by his hero, Fred Rogers. For more than a decade, he has helped lead Remake Learning—a network of educators, scientists, artists, and makers he founded in 2007—to international renown. Formed in Rogers’ real-life neighborhood of Pittsburgh, Remake Learning has turned heads everywhere from Forbes to the World Economic Forum for its efforts to ignite children’s curiosity, encourage creativity, and foster justice and belonging in schools, libraries, museums, and more. A graduate of the University of Notre Dame and also Duke University, Gregg holds honorary degrees from Carlow University and Saint Vincent College. He’s an advisor to the Brookings Institution and the Fred Rogers Center, and has been cited by Barack Obama, Richard Branson, and the Disruptor Foundation as an innovator and thought leader.
Credits:
Hosted, written, and produced by Michelle Thomas & Ashley Wineland with The Mentoring Partnership of SWPA | www.mentoringpittsburgh.org
Music is "Cheery Monday" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) | Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License | http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
S2 E5 - Season 2 Wrap Up!
Join Ashley and Michelle as they wrap up the season and discuss impactful moments from the interviews with Dr. Dana Winters, Dr. Harriet Schwartz, and Principal Eric Harper. Do you have questions or thoughts of your own? Share them with us! Leave a review or visit our website to get in touch!
Stay Connected with TMP:
Sign up to receive weekly Everyday Mentoring tips | https://www.mentoringpittsburgh.org/tips
Help us continue to deliver free training to caring adults in the community | https://www.mentoringpittsburgh.org/pages/give
Thank you to Dr. Dana Winters, Dr. Harriet Schwartz, and Principal Eric Harper.
Credits:
Hosted, written, and produced by Michelle Thomas & Ashley Wineland with The Mentoring Partnership of SWPA | www.mentoringpittsburgh.org
Music is "Cheery Monday" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) | Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License | http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
S2 E4 - Principal Eric Harper
The COVID-19 pandemic has been an unprecedented challenge for schools, students, and educators. At Duquesne Elementary School, Principal Harper and his team continue to face those challenges. Even so, Everyday Mentoring has remained at the heart of what they do. Listen in to our last interview of Season 2 as we talk with Principal Harper about how they've embedded Everyday Mentoring into their school relationships and the ways the pandemic has impacted that.
Additional Resources:
Duquesne City School District | dukecitysd.org
Thank you to Eric Harper:
Mr. Harper is a team-oriented individual who advocates for children. Born in 1975 in McKeesport, Pennsylvania and a 1994 graduate of McKeesport Area High School, Mr. Harper was offered a full scholarship to attend the University of Cincinnati. He graduated from the College of Education with a Criminal Justice Degree with a minor in Psychology in 1999.
After graduation, Mr. Harper worked as a therapeutic specialist for the ArchDiocese of Greater Cincinnati's - St. Joseph Orphanage for two years. Returning to Pennsylvania in 2001, he began a career as a vocational counselor for The United States Department of Labor's - Pittsburgh Job Corps for several years. Following the Pittsburgh Job Corps, Mr Harper worked for several public schools within the Pittsburgh Public School System.
Over the past ten years, Mr. Harper has dedicated his services to Duquesne Elementary School operating under several different job duties and titles, most recently as the Student Services Coordinator up until the 2018-2019 SY.
The start of the 2019-2020 School Year Mr. Harper started his principalship as Duquesne's Elementary School Principal under a PA Emergency Principal Certification (PK-12). Mr. Harper enrolled in postgraduate studies at Point Park University studying Administrative Education with a principal certification (K-12) in March of 2019. His targeted graduation date is March 2021. Since then, Mr. Harper completed his Master's program in Administrative Education in March of 2021 as anticipated.
Credits:
Hosted, written, and produced by Michelle Thomas & Ashley Wineland with The Mentoring Partnership of SWPA | www.mentoringpittsburgh.org
Music is "Cheery Monday" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) | Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License | http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
S2 E3 - Dr. Harriet Schwartz
When we talk about mentoring, what we're really talking about is relationships. Just because it may not be called "mentoring," doesn't mean that it isn't an important relationship. In this episode, we talk with Dr. Harriet Schwartz - author and professor - about what it means to have growth-fostering relationships and how we can be intentional about using the "good things" to make even the smallest interaction meaningful.
Connect with Dr. Harriet Schwartz:
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCRDOz9GWfIxLKk344EjvvAQ
Twitter: @Harriet Schwartz
Linkedin @https://www.linkedin.com/in/harrietschwartz/
Instagram: @ConnectedProfessor & @HarrietLSchwartzPhotography
Thank you to Dr. Harriet Schwartz:
Harriet L. Schwartz, PhD, is Professor of Relational Practice and Higher Education in Antioch University’s PhD in Leadership and Change program. She is the author of Connected Teaching: Relationship, Power, and Mattering in Higher Education. She also writes in the public domain, addressing social justice issues including racism, sexism, and homophobia. Harriet is lead scholar for education as relational practice and a leadership team member for the International Center for Growth in Connection, the intellectual home of Relational Cultural Theory and related research and practice. Harriet lives in Pittsburgh.
Credits:
Hosted, written, and produced by Michelle Thomas & Ashley Wineland with The Mentoring Partnership of SWPA | www.mentoringpittsburgh.org
Music is "Cheery Monday" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) | Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License | http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
S2 E2 - Dana Winters
MentorChat's first guest of Season 2 is Dana Winters from the Fred Rogers Center! In this episode, we're talking with Dana about how the simplest interactions with young people can make a huge mentoring difference. Everyday Mentors - the "helpers" - who support kids can be anyone from teachers, to coaches, to crossing guards, and the work that they're already doing to make sure that young people feel seen and heard is worth recognizing! Listen in for some great and uplifting discussion about how - to quote the great Mr. Rogers - "the deep and simple is far more essential than the shallow and complex" when impacting the lives of youth!
Additional Resources:
Fred Rogers Center | https://www.fredrogerscenter.org
Simple Interactions | https://www.fredrogerscenter.org/what-we-do/simple-interactions/
Thank you to Dana Winters:
Dana Winters, Ph.D., is the Rita McGinley Executive Director of the Fred Rogers Center for Early Learning and Children’s Media at Saint Vincent College. Her extensive field research from interviewing prisoners to shadowing crossing guards, from observing Head Start teachers and developing coaches in early childhood systems has informed the co-development of the Simple Interactions approach to support children, families, and their helpers. Dr. Winters describes and affirms the essential and relational practices of professionals across early education and intervention, out of school time learning, healthcare, family engagement, and more. She is an experienced applied researcher who has served as co-principal investigator and program evaluator for consecutive NSF-funded early childhood research and intervention projects in the areas of early literacy, social emotional development, and early mathematical learning. She leads numerous foundation and government project grants to improve early childhood systems and family engagement practices. Dr. Winters serves as a UNESCO Faculty Fellow in Children and Youth Studies, collaborating with faculty around the world in the advancement of empathy development and adult-child relationships across developmental settings. She received her Ph.D. in administrative and policy studies from the University of Pittsburgh.
Credits:
Hosted, written, and produced by Michelle Thomas & Ashley Wineland with The Mentoring Partnership of SWPA | www.mentoringpittsburgh.org
Music is "Cheery Monday" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) | Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License | http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
S2 E1 - What's Everyday Mentoring?
Description:
Season 2 of our Mentor Chat podcast focuses a lot on Everyday Mentoring and we're kicking things off with our first episode, which tackles an obvious first question: what is Everyday Mentoring? You may remember us referencing Everyday Mentoring last season. Well, now we're shining a spotlight on the essence of Everyday Mentoring and how adults everywhere can use it to make a mentoring difference in the lives of kiddos they see regularly. Everyday Mentoring is an important piece of the mentoring puzzle and it plays a critical role in our work to surround kids with 360 degrees of mentoring support -- in school, at home and in the community. So settle in and listen to some personal stories and fun facts that will pave the way for our future Everyday Mentoring episodes!
Credits:
Hosted, written, and produced by Michelle Thomas & Ashley Wineland with The Mentoring Partnership of SWPA | www.mentoringpittsburgh.org
Music is "Cheery Monday" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) | Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License | http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
"Every Kid Needs a Champion," Rita Pierson
MentorChat is back!
Season 2 is coming soon, and this time we're talking about Everyday Mentoring! Everyday Mentoring recognizes that adults everywhere can make a mentoring difference for youth in their daily lives. We'll be taking deep dives and talking with experts to understand what Everyday Mentoring looks like in action and how all caring adults can utilize it to help support youth succeed and thrive. Check back soon for Episode 1 - we can't wait to chat more!
Credits:
Hosted, written, and produced by Michelle Thomas & Ashley Wineland with The Mentoring Partnership of SWPA | www.mentoringpittsburgh.org
Music is "Cheery Monday" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) | Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License | http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
S1 E5 - Dishing with the Boss
Episode 5 - Dishing with the Boss
Settle in for a one-on-one with TMP Executive Director, Colleen Fedor. In her 20+ years at the helm of our organization, she's seen the growth and evolution of mentoring in our community and across the country. She's sharing some of her highlights and hopes for the future as we close out this first series of podcast episodes.
S1 E4 - Making the Most of Mentoring
Episode 4 - Making the Most of Mentoring
We've covered the bases on why mentoring is so important and the positive impact it can have. But still, 1 in 3 young people who want a mentor don't have one. How can we close this gap? One thing we can do is teach kids to seek out mentors in their own networks. Equipping youth with the tools they need to find support for their goals is invaluable. Share this episode with a young person in your life, or take the key learnings out into the world with you as you encourage and uplift your young people!
S1 E3 - Meaningful Mentoring Moments
Episode 3 - Meaningful Mentoring Moments
It's all hands on deck for this episode of MentorChat! The entire TMP Team is gathering 'round the mic to share how mentoring has impacted each of our lives. In sharing our personal stories, we'll also challenge you -- our listeners -- to think about the mentors in your life. What does that relationship mean to you? What would you say to that person now? Grab your favorite hot beverage and pull up a chair as we spill the tea on some of our meaningful mentoring moments!
S1 E2 - Mentoring Myths
Episode 2 - Mentoring Myths
In our last episode, we talked about how important mentoring is. So why isn't everyone mentoring? In this episode, we're going to tackle mentoring myths. From "I don't have time" to "my kid doesn't need a mentor," we're discussing things people may think about mentoring that aren't necessarily true. Tune in to learn more about how you can make mentoring a perfect fit for you or a young person in your life.
Additional Resources
MentoringPittsburgh.org -- check out our trainings, Online Resource Library and upcoming events
Everyday Mentoring Weekly Tips -- sign up to receive mentoring tips in your inbox each week
Mentoring Connector -- search volunteer opportunities near you
S1 E1 - Why Mentoring Matters
Episode 1 - Why Mentoring?
Obviously given the title of our podcast -- Mentor Chat -- you know we're talking all things mentoring. But in this first episode, we're going to lay the groundwork for all our discussions moving forward. Why mentoring? We're going to help you explore how mentoring may have impacted your life. Who helped you get to where you are today? Who are those people who have always been there for you? Now more than ever, caring connections and strong relationships are important and we're going to talk about how mentoring plays an important role in our lives. Whether it's a formal program or informal Everyday Mentoring, everyone can benefit from mentoring. Let's get this conversation started!
Additional Resources:
MentoringPittsburgh.org -- Trainings, Online Resource Library
Everyday Mentoring Weekly Tips - Sign up here!
Mentoring Connector -- Search volunteer opportunities near you!
Stay inspired: Link to "If You Mentor Me" clip