Happy New Year! We hope you all had a safe & relaxing holiday break. Every January, the mentoring movement unites in celebration of National Mentoring Month and uses the power of our collective voice to recruit new mentors, advance the mentoring field’s legislative priorities and drive meaningful change for young people. During this month-long celebration of mentoring, join us, in partnership with Mentor MD | DC, in sharing what mentoring means to you! Invite your friends, tell your neighbors and tell your story! You can find more information about how to participate in National Mentoring Month below.

We are so excited about what 2023 will bring and there is already so much to celebrate! Keep reading for new staff updates, Martin Luther King Jr. Day events, ideas for fun & free activities, and information about the Mentors, Inc. @ Kid Power 2023 Scholarships. 

CONVERSATION STARTERS | National Mentoring Month!

To celebrate National Mentoring Month, we want you to have fun and learn something new about your match!

1. If you could master any skill, what would it be and why?
2. What accomplishment are you most proud of?
3. Time freezes one day for the whole world except for you. What would you do?

For more conversation starters, tools and resources check out our Mentoring Road Map.

STAFF UPDATES

Welcome, Aiden!

We are excited to welcome Aiden Teplitzky Dobens as our new Program Manager, Mentor Recruitment & Intake! Aiden will lead our mentor intake efforts and supervise a caseload of mentoring matches. Aiden joins us with his vast experience working with children on a day-to-day basis to help support and develop mentors on their journeys.

Welcome, Demi!

MI @ KP welcomes our new Volunteer Coordinator, Demi Henry. Demi will recruit volunteers and collaborate with Kid Power staff to ensure volunteers receive high-quality training to support programming. Demi is passionate and determined to impact underserved communities by fostering relationships and is thrilled to join the Kid Power team.

Visit our Careers page for details about current job opportunities with Kid Power. To apply, please email your resume and cover letter to jobs@kidpowerdc.org, including the position in the subject line.

UPCOMING EVENTS | Martin Luther King Jr. Day

ADVOCACY WORKSHOP - Monday, January 16th @ 11am - 12:30pm

Protégés and Mentors are invited to join us for a day around community advocacy. Become a youth or mentor ambassador, meet other matches, and learn more about being an advocate for yourself and your communities from DC Justice Lab. Youth ambassadors will receive an opportunity to earn a gift card by engaging their peers in mentoring. You do not want to miss out on this day to learn about civic engagement and how to get involved! Snacks and drinks will be provided!

SCHOLARSHIP WORKSHOP - Monday, January 16th @ 12:30pm - 1:30pm

Stick around after our advocacy event for the Mentors, Inc. Scholarship Workshop. All are welcome to explore available scholarships and learn to identify scholarships and funding available to them for post-secondary education. Graduating seniors will get an early look at our scholarship application for an opportunity to earn up to $8000 toward post-secondary education. More information about our scholarships is below!

If you are interested in one or both events on MLK Day, RSVP HERE! Both events will take place at our offices at 421 Seward Sq. SE.

MARK YOUR CALENDAR | MENTOR Capitol Hill Day

Capitol Hill Day is an important advocacy event that connects Members of Congress and their staff to mentors, advocates, professionals, and young people from across the country to talk about critical issues facing the nation’s youth and the legislation and policies they can implement to expand access to quality mentoring opportunities.

On Wednesday, January 15th, the Mentors, Inc. @ Kid Power team, joined by protégés, will visit Capitol Hill to advocate for mentoring. You can help amplify our voices by contacting your representatives. Check out MENTOR's Advocacy Page to learn more and find email templates for contacting your representatives.

Contact Kaitlin Putnam, our program director, at kaitlin@kidpowerdc.org or 202.227.8961 if you have any questions!

NATIONAL MENTORING MONTH | Important Days to Celebrate

Wednesday, January 11th

I AM A MENTOR DAY

Monday, January 16th

DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING DAY OF SERVICE

Tuesday, January 17th

INTERNATIONAL MENTORING DAY

Thursday, January 26th

THANK YOUR MENTOR DAY

For more information on ways to celebrate mentoring this month, visit MENTOR National Mentoring Month.

SAVE THE DATE | February 20th - 24th

We are planning some exciting career-focused events in February with MENTOR MD | DC, EAB, and more! During this week, DCPS schools are closed, as well as many charter schools.

NETWORKING EVENT

Monday, February 20th

Mentors, Inc. is partnering with MENTOR MD | DC and GoPursue to bring you a career exploration event. At this event, youth will have the opportunity to meet a variety of people in different career industries. This is a great chance to learn more about a career you're interested or discover something new!

This event will take place at the Josephine Butler Parks Center at 2437 15th St. NW.

CAREER SITE VISIT

Thursday, February 23rd

Join Mentors, Inc. on Thursday, February 23rd for our first career site visit of 2023 at EAB! EAB is an education software company with employees working in software engineering, data analytics, marketing, sales, research, business, and more! Youth will be given an opportunity to learn about the company, meet staff, and learn about a variety of career paths!

Youth will meet at the Kid Power Offices at 400 E St. SW at 11am and travel together via metro to the EAB Offices at 2445 M St. NW. Youth will dismiss from the EAB Offices.

For more details and information about both events, RSVP here!

Contact Hannah Ayer, program manager, at hannahayer@kidpowerdc.org or 202.570.4913 if you have any questions!

SCHOLARSHIP SPOTLIGHT | Mentors, Inc. @ Kid Power Scholarships

The Mentors, Inc. @ Kid Power Scholarship is almost here! We will be releasing our scholarship application on Monday, January 16th at 12:30pm during our annual scholarship workshop (details above, RSVP HERE)

This year, Kid Power is offering a number of one-time awards for graduating seniors attending post-secondary education programs (university, community college, vocational school, or job training). We will also be offering a scholarship for $8,000 that will be awarded by the River Road Unitarian Universalist Congregation. If you, or someone you know, is a graduating senior who is NOT currently participating in Kid Power programming but has in the past, please complete the nomination form to seek nomination to confirm eligibility.

Please contact Kaitlin Putnam, program director, at kaitlin@kidpowerdc.org or your staff contact with any questions about our scholarship opportunities!

MLK INSPIRATION CONTEST

MENTOR MD | DC presents their 2023 MLK Inspiration Contest.

THE PROMPT: Martin Luther King Jr.’s mentors shaped him into a civil rights leader that would leave a legacy we still talk about today. How has your mentor (or an adult you look up to) inspired you to help your community? Why do you think Martin Luther King Jr. was such a good mentor to his mentees? Why is your mentor (or inspirational adult) similar to Martin Luther King Jr., his mentors, or mentees? From what you’ve learned about Martin Luther King Jr., his mentors, and mentees, if you were a mentor, how would you inspire your mentee[s]?

You can prepare your entry to fit one of the following categories:

• Written Essay: In an essay format, write 400-500 words to address the questions in the prompt.
• Video Essay: In a 3-5 minute video, address the questions in the prompt.
• Artwork: In the artistic medium of your choice (poetry, visual art, sculpture, etc), respond to the questions in your prompt. Please caption your artwork to communicate your intent to the judges.

Each category of submission has the opportunity to win a cash prize.

Challenge Rules:

• Only 6th - 12th grade students may submit an entry.
• Students must attend school in Maryland or the District of Columbia.
• You may collaborate with your mentor to complete your submission, but you should be acting as the main creator of the work.
• Selected winners MUST be present at the Awards Ceremony to receive their prize.

All submissions are due by Tuesday, January 10th at 11:59pm. Interested? Apply HERE.

FUN & FREE | Filming a Short Documentary

Saturdays (January 7 - March 11)

12pm - 1:30pm

GB Youth Media

900 Wayne Avenue Lower level B/Media Arts

Silver Spring, MD 20910

Create a short film and learn some new skills. Whether you like photography, writing, camera work, esthetics, directing, acting, journalism, or editing, you will find your place in this class. Sample film topics include mental health, climate change, arts and culture, careers, impact of the pandemic, school experience, autobiography, sports, languages, and global society. Sign up for this workshop, here.

For more events by GB Youth Media, visit here.

VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES | Capital Area Food Bank

Saturday, January 21st

9am - 12pm & 1pm - 4pm

Capital Area Food Bank

4900 Puerto Rico Avenue, NE

Washington, DC 20017

Solving hunger will take everyone. Our food assistance partners, donors, and volunteers make our annual distribution of more than 45 million meals possible. If you want to make a difference, there’s a role for you too. Both groups and individuals can help us in a variety of ways. Grab a friend and help improve the lives of your neighbors.

If you are interested in sorting and packing donations on Saturday, January 21st, sign up for 9am-12pm HERE OR for 1pm - 4pm HERE.

For a full calendar of opportunities and dates, visit here.

MENTOR REFERRALS

We are once again asking our community to see if you know any great mentors to support our youth! Please click the link HERE to refer someone to become a mentor. This link can also be shared with your networks to refer a mentor.

Contact Demi Henry, AmeriCorps Volunteer Coordinator, at volunteer@kidpowerdc.org or 202.963.2620 if you have any questions!