MentorChat The Mentoring Partnership of SWPA

A mentoring relationship doesn’t usually happen in isolation – there are lots of important people in the lives of young people! Connecting Champions knows this and is always intentional about working with others close to their mentees to help ensure the positive outcomes. Join us for this discussion with Coy Thompson about how Connecting Champions collaborates with mentors, guardians, doctors, social workers, and others to support young people with cancer in learning about their passion, explore professions, and navigating the cancer journey.
Chapter 7: Working with Others in the Mentoring Relationship System by Thomas E. Keller of Portland State University discusses how making an effort to get to know the other adults in a mentee’s life can improve a mentor’s understanding of and ability to communicate with their mentee.

What does it mean to honor youth voice? How do we share power with young people and allow them agency in mentoring relationships? In this episode, we talk with Adelaide Moschler and start at the very beginning with what youth voice is and what it means. Listening to young people can help you build stronger relationships with the young people you know and creates connections based on mutual trust and respect. Listen in to learn valuable strategies to help you honor the voices of the young people in your life!
Chapter 8: Honoring Youth Voice & Building Power by Elizabeth Santiago & Minnie Chen of MENTOR discusses how, in order to elevate youth voice, adults must learn to listen critically and step back to share power with young people.
Additional Resources:
MENTOR’s Becoming a Better Mentor Guide
MENTOR Independence Region

When you’re working with a group of young people, how do you make sure that everyone feels seen and heard? Mentoring isn’t always one-to-one with a young person and how you approach connection and relationship building can look differently in a group. In this episode, we talk with Kristy DeCola about how to facilitate mentoring relationships with groups of young people.
Chapter 6: Facilitating Group Interactions by Gabriel Kuperminc of Georgia State University discusses how to build a strong sense of belonging and create community when mentoring within groups of young people.
Additional Resources:
MENTOR’s Becoming a Better Mentor Guide
KEYS Service Corps

Hello Neighbor in Pittsburgh works hard to foster a welcoming and supportive community to our newest neighbors. In this discussion with Jenni Walkup Jayes, we discuss the important role that cultural humility plays in making this happen. It’s not always easy! But making an effort to self-reflect as well as learn about the young people in your life is essential in building a trusting relationship where youth feel seen, heard, and safe.
Chapter 2: Practicing Cultural Humility by Bernadette Sanchez of the University of Illinois-Chicago discusses how it is essential to engage in continuous self-reflection as a mentor and the importance of making opportunities to learn about your mentee’s identity and cultural experiences.
Additional Resources:
MENTOR’s Becoming a Better Mentor Guide
Hello Neighbor

What’s more fun than talking about…well…fun! At the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh, staff know how important fun and play is when creating welcoming spaces and building relationships with young people. In this episode, we talk with Kelly Rottmund about all the work and intention that’s happening behind the scenes to make sure that the library is a place where young people feel valued and have a good time!
Chapter 3: Making Room for Fun & Play by Michael Karcher of the University of Texas-San Antonio discusses how, by centering joyful experiences, mentors can develop stronger and more meaningful connections with mentees.
Additional Resources:
MENTOR’s Becoming a Better Mentor Guide
Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh

What can I do to be a better mentor? In Season 5, Ashley & Sophia invite guests from local organizations and affiliate partners to discuss MENTOR’s Becoming a Better Mentor Guide: Strategies to Be There for Young People. This guide is a free resource written by experts, and it benefits any adult looking to support young people and is full of real-world advice and tangible, evidence-based strategies. If you’re looking to be a better mentor and strengthen your relationships with the young people in your life, look no further! Season 5 is just for you!
Additional Resources:
MENTOR’s Becoming a Better Mentor Guide
Search Institute’s Developmental Relationships Framework