MENTORING PARTNERSHIP OF MINNESOTA

THE MENTORING PARTNERSHIP OF MINNESOTA DBA MENTOR MINNESOTA COUNTS ON 29 YEARS OF LEADING IN THE MENTORING MOVEMENT IN MINNESOTA TO ENSURE YOUTH AND MENTORS HAVE ACCESS TO HIGH-QUALITY MENTORING EXPERIENCES THROUGH A NETWORK OF NEARLY 200 MENTORING PROGRAMS. MENTOR MINNESOTA FOCUSES ON BUILDING THE CAPACITY OF MENTORING PROGRAMS THROUGHOUT MINNESOTA THROUGH TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE, CONSULTATION, AND TRAINING. HIGHLIGHTS FOR THE TRAINING AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE FOR 2023 INCLUDE: TWICE MONTH NO-COST TRAINING AND NETWORKING FOR MENTORING PROGRAM STAFF FROM DIFFERENT TYPES OF PROGRAMS, AT ALL LEVELS OF EXPERTISE, TO ATTEND AN OPEN SESSION FOR PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT IN A FOCUS AREA OR TO RECEIVE FREE CONSULTATION FROM MENTOR MINNESOTA STAFF AND TO ADDRESS CURRENT PROGRAM NEEDS. THESE OPPORTUNITIES ALLOW PROFESSIONALS TO COME TOGETHER AND LEARN MORE ABOUT THE NEEDS OF SPECIFIC POPULATIONS OF YOUTH THEY WORK WITH AND QUALITY PRACTICES, ALONG WITH THE OPPORTUNITY TO REFLECT, SHARE EXPERIENCES, AND WALK AWAY WITH NEW SKILLS AND SUPPORT. MENTOR MINNESOTA'S EVENTFUL 29TH YEAR WAS FULL OF NUMEROUS REMINDERS OF THE IMPORTANCE OF OUR WORK. AND AS A TEAM AND A COMMUNITY OF YOUTH DEVELOPMENT LEADERS, WE LEANED INTO OUR MISSION, EXPANDED SERVICES, AND LAID GROUNDWORK FOR SYSTEMS CHANGE THAT WILL CONTINUE THROUGH 2024 AND BEYOND. OVER THE LAST YEAR I'VE COME BACK TIME AND TIME AGAIN TO THE STORIES OF OUR IMPACT. MENTORING IS, AFTER ALL, ALL ABOUT THE TRANSFORMATIVE POWER OF RELATIONSHIPS. ONE PROGRAM LEADER AT MINNEAPOLIS PARKS AND REC WHO WORKED WITH MENTOR MINNESOTA AS PART OF A YOUTH VIOLENCE PREVENTION INITIATIVE, WROTE TO US AND SAID THAT MENTOR MINNESOTA HAS KEPT ME GROUNDED AND FEELING COMFORTABLE DURING A DIFFICULT AND BUSY TRANSITION FOR ME. WITHOUT [MY CONSULTANT RICA RIVERA], I CAN EASILY SAY I WOULDN'T HAVE GOTTEN MY MENTOR PROGRAM OFF THE GROUND! CONSULTING ACROSS THE BOARD INCREASED. WE DEDICATED OVER 1,400 HOURS ON THIRTY-TWO 1:1 COACHING AND CONSULTING PROJECTS FOR YOUTH SERVING ORGANIZATIONS IN THE STATE AT NO COST TO THEM. ONE OF THOSE PROJECTS INCLUDES OUR RELATIONSHIP CENTERED SCHOOLS INITIATIVE IN WHICH WE PARTNERED WITH ISD 917 TO CONDUCT RELATIONSHIP MAPPING AND WORK WITH STUDENTS, STAFF, AND CAREGIVERS TO IMPLEMENT RELATIONSHIP RICH INITIATIVES OF THEIR OWN DESIGN INTO THE SCHOOL ENVIRONMENT. KEY INITIATIVES IN 2023 INCLUDED SUPPORTING THE REVAMP OF THE MINNESOTA-CREATED-TURNED-NATIONALLY ADOPTED NATIONAL QUALITY MENTORING SYSTEM (SOME OLD TIMERS MIGHT RECOGNIZE THIS AS QMAP). WE HAD THE HONOR OF ADVISING A COHORT OF AFFILIATE LEADERS AND MENTORING PROFESSIONALS IN SIMPLIFYING AND EXPANDING THIS IMPORTANT MENTORING QUALITY ASSESSMENT FOR MENTORING PROGRAMS TO MAKE THIS ASSESSMENT INCLUSIVE TO GROUP MENTORING, INCREASE DEI RESOURCES FOR PROGRAMS, AND PROVIDE SUPPORT FOR THE CONSULTANTS AND COACHES ADMINISTERING THE NEW NQMS REVIEW. THE NEW SYSTEM WAS FULLY LAUNCHED IN SEPTEMBER 2023! IN DECEMBER, IN PARTNERSHIP WITH DR. LINDSEY WEILER AT THE UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA AND THE NATIONAL MENTORING RESOURCE CENTER, MENTOR MINNESOTA KICKED OFF OUR PILOT OF THE MENTAL HEALTH AMBASSADOR'S PROGRAM FOR 17 YOUTH AND ADULT ADVOCATES IN NORTHEAST MINNESOTA. THIS WORK WAS FUNDED BY THE STARBUCKS FOUNDATION IN COLLABORATION WITH MENTOR NATIONAL. YOUTH WILL BE TRAINED ON MENTAL HEALTH FIRST AID, SUICIDE PREVENTION, CIVIC ENGAGEMENT, AND IN THE END WILL CONDUCT COMMUNITY SERVICE PROJECTS RELATED TO MENTAL HEALTH IN THEIR COMMUNITIES. ALL OF THIS WORK COULD NOT HAVE BEEN ACCOMPLISHED WITHOUT THE TIRELESS SUPPORT OF OUR NEW, AND GROWING STAFF. IN LATE SEPTEMBER WE WELCOME ERIC POTHEN, COACHING AND LEARNING ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR AND MICHAEL SALAZAR, MARKETING AND DEVELOPMENT ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR, TO OUR TEAM. LIKEWISE, OUR TEAM COULD NOT HAVE ACCOMPLISHED OUR 2023 GOALS WITHOUT THE SUPPORT OF OUR BOARD OF DIRECTORS. WE CELEBRATE THE CONTRIBUTIONS OF OUTGOING BOARD MEMBERS TONY SANNEH AND JAMAL ABDUR SALAAM, AND WELCOME OUR NEW BOARD RECRUITS THE HONORABLE ARLENE PERKKIO AND CHERYL MOELLER. MENTOR MINNESOTA IS HONORED TO CELEBRATE OUR ACCOMPLISHMENTS WITH YOU, AND EXCITED TO CELEBRATE 30 YEARS OF IMPACT WITH YOU IN 2024!