Mentorship Springing into Summer
May 2021 | Issue No. 14
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Mentoring & Retention/Completion • Jobs, Job Shadowing, & Internships • Statistics • Survey • Mentoring Models • Male Mentoring |
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From the Editor
Oklahoma's best-kept secret for workforce development, quality of life, and retention and completion is quality mentoring and its related forms of coaching, leadership development, and internships. Innovate or create now. If you have questions, ask us.
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Mentoring & Retention/Completion |
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Mentoring and Scholarship
Research proves the value of mentoring to keep people in school, college, and adult and youth programs. Here are several transition models that combine scholarship with mentoring to achieve retention and completion and teach leadership. Scholarships are not necessary for retention and completion for at-risk populations, but these adaptable mentoring models fill in gaps for success.
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Bartlesville's Lowe Family Young Scholars Program, est. 2006
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Miami's Robert S. Gee Scholarship Program, est. 2004
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Frederick's Big Topics, est. 2011, Jr. Topics and Bomber YELL
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J.A.M.E.S., Inc., est. 2006
- Sigma Pi Phi Fraternity
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Federal TRIO Programs, not scholarships, but retention/completion assistance
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Jobs, Job Shadowing, & Internships |
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To expand mentees' social capital and knowledge, mentoring program staff, mentors, and mentoring boards can identify, instigate, or create job shadowing and internships for their mentees. If not for July or August, begin establishing or finding opportunities for the 2021-22 academic year.
Summer Jobs
Meaningful work experience while in school increases the chances of post-school successes. A summer job offers the chance to gain skills, make connections, get engaged in the community, learn what support strategies work, and make better-informed choices about the future. [The photo above represents diversity and inclusion, including disabilities--invisible and visible. Mentoring and opportunities should encompass all.]
Job Shadowing, which can last for a day or several days, is working with a professional who works in a field in which a mentee is or may be interested. This takes collaboration, preparation, oversite, and evaluation.
Internships are a period of work experience offered by a business, a government agency, or a non-profit organization for a limited time. In addition to gaining social capital, mentees gain relevant skills and experience. Internships can be paid or unpaid.
Chelsea Hunt, executive director of Work-Based Learning & Industry Engagement for the Oklahoma State Department of Education, emailed us some resources--for youths of all ages, but especially for older youth and young adults.
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Mentored Youth
(Extrapolate for older people.)
55% more likely to be enrolled in college
52% less likely to skip a day of school
37% less likely to skip a class
46% less likely than their peers to start using drugs
27% less likely to start drinking
81% more likely to report participating regularly in sports or extracurricular activities
more than 2X as likely to say they held a leadership position in a club or sports team
78% more likely to volunteer regularly in their communities
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Take the short Oklahoma mentoring program survey if you haven't.
Thanks to Oklahoma City University's Anne Roberts for the idea.
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Videos about Oklahoma Program Models |
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Mentor4OK videos, more available on YouTube, share information, best practices, models, and inspiration. Many are around 30 minutes long. We thank the presenters who volunteered their time, experience, and wisdom to promote mentoring. |
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Overcoming Oklahoma's Fatherhood Crisis
U.S. Census Bureau (2020): 18.3 million children, 1 in 4, live without a biological, step, or adoptive father in the home. A father factor is in nearly all social ills facing America today. Tulsa's Sekou Clincy is the Fatherhood Coordinator, Tulsa Community Service Council, Healthy Start Program; host of the CSC Fatherhood Coalition; and a regional representative for National Healthy Start Program.
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Impact of and Need for Positive Male Mentors
Norman's Lieutenant Rod Sanders, University of Oklahoma Police Department and Norman Police Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) Team, talks about why he mentors and what he gains from mentoring. Keyante, whom Sanders began mentoring through Bridges of Norman, is now an adult and a member of the family. Sanders is also a Big through Big Brothers Big Sisters.
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Mentoring Latino
Students & Parents
The drive for their children to succeed, the importance of family in decision-making, and the growing demographic of Latinx students K-16+ make understanding how to empower families and students essential. Guymon's Teri Mora, director of Upward Bound, Oklahoma Panhandle State University, and Alma Avalos, program facilitator, share strategies. Latinos, the fastest-growing demographic, are our future leaders and community servants.
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Leading the Expecting & Parenting Adolescent Family
With graduation rates of 90% for high school and 50% for college proving this model works, J.A.M.E.S. (Just About Mothers Excelling in School), Inc., uses coaching, mentoring, and scholarships to enable mentees ages 13-24 to further their leadership, education, and careers. Tulsa's Alisa Davis Bell, founder and executive director, explains her model's pillars of transparency, authenticity, exposure, support, and opportunities.
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Breaking the Cycles of Incarceration through Mentoring
Oklahoma City's Nikki Sharber, the first full-time volunteer coordinator of TEEM (The Education and Employment Ministry), explains the three-pronged approach to breaking cycles of incarceration and poverty in Oklahoma by providing individuals with education, social services, job training, and placement. Mentoring can begin inside and continues outside of prison. Mentorship, life skills, training, and respect transform both the mentee and the mentor.
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A College Model for Building Business Leaders
The JCPenney Leadership Program offers these elements: Peer Trainer Program, Peer-to-Peer Mentorship, Board Fellows, Student Advisory Board, choice of internship or study abroad, one-on-one mentorship by the director, and more. Presenters are Breea Clark, J.D., director, JCPenney Leadership Program; Saba Sandhu, director of Peer Trainers; and Molly Thompson, chair, Student Advisory Board. Price College of Business, University of Oklahoma.
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Mailing Address
P.O. Box 1796
Edmond, OK,
73083-1796, US
Phone:
405-590-4063
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