First ‘Power of Mentoring’ conference set for August 24, 2013

‘Power of Mentoring’ conference

For the first time, the Mentoring Partnership of Southwestern Pennsylvania will hold a conference — Harnessing the Power of Mentoring in Schools – aimed at helping people learn the value of mentoring for kids in 26 school districts across 10 local counties.

Says Dana Gold, the group’s director of programs: “A lot of the research is showing that for youth, particularly in middle school, who are being expelled or disciplined in two core classes or failing in two core classes, or who have attendance of less than 70 percent, those three factors are a key indication of who is going to drop out of school.”

The question, then, she says, becomes: “How do we as adults, teachers, coaches, parents … surround those kids with enough support so that they stay in school and have hope for the future? Bringing in a caring mentor is a proven preventive practice.”

Mentoring Partnership of Southwestern Pennsylvania

The organization has long been getting calls from across the state and West Virginia, asking how other groups can create a great mentoring program. The conference gives the chance for successful mentoring organizations to teach those who want to start effective programs. Representatives of organizations with a healthy mentoring track record, such as Strong Women, Strong Girls, will be on hand for conference sessions.

Be a Middle School mentor program

Pittsburgh Allegheny 6-8 Principal Toni Kendrick will be the keynote speaker. Her school partners with Be a Middle School Mentor (formerly Be a 6th Grade Mentor) and the United Way, and will talk about how mentoring has positively affected her school.

The conference is free and open to the public, and registration is open until Aug. 16.

Concludes Gold: “We’re really hoping that schools see this as a one-stop shop for the many ways you can bring mentoring into your classrooms.”

 

Writer: Marty Levine

Source: Dana Gold, Mentoring Partnership of Southwestern Pennsylvania