A Regional Conversation and Connection:
Changing Lives Through Mentoring
By Dr. Joseph Pascarelli
Original article was in Summer 2003 "Mentoring Connections"
INDEX:
In February 2003, IMA sponsored the Northeast Regional Mentoring Symposium, "Changing Lives through Mentoring". IMA President Aliceteen Taylor, and past and present IMA Board members Katherine Wilcox, Zach Berry, and Joe Pascarelli, planned and coordinated the event. The Symposium was co-hosted by the Education Program of Barnard College, New York. It was the first regional event that IMA has held and it was designed to complement the IMA's Annual National Conference.
Based on the favorable and enthusiastic responses of the attendees, the concept of a regional symposium was a success. Participants commented that it was of great benefit to share common interests, hear about local best practices, and to begin the development of a regional mentoring support network in the northeast US.
Conversations among Symposium leaders and participants during and at the conclusion of the day led to the conclusion that there were multiple contrasting reasons for the event's success, and therefore, many reasons to support holding similar symposia elsewhere round the world.
Success Factor #1 - Quality Content & Exciting Ideas
"Mentoring," she explained, "is a matter of creating cultures of achievement to help youth grow up as caring and nurturing adults. The challenge for mentors is to guide youth to recognize the power of quiet time...reflective time. I am concerned about the missed times [for youth] to find their personal voice. Mentors can help young people get a sense of their own inner voiceóto find the voice within, to learn about the strength of breath, the strength of purposefulness and consciousness. We are fashioned so hideously by things that distract us, those things that delay a sense of what we can do in the world. Helping youth to find this voice is the power of Mentoring."
"Mentoring", he perceives, "has taken on greater significance in helping youth to shape their possible futures."
He presented powerful indicators of socio-cultural changes that include the:
Dr. Calloway called for a reinvestment in humanity by enveloping youth with a "garment of mentoring support" so they grow up as nurturing, caring, and loving adults".
Success Factor #2 - Role Diversity
One contributing factor to the success of the event was the dynamic dialogue of the diversity of Symposium participants. All agreed that the interaction was powerful and a unique learning opportunity, in part because the attendees included mentors, youth protégés, coordinators of mentoring programs, and other stake holders and representatives of mentoring programs. The varied view points of these many role groups ensured that issues discussed were thoroughly explored from all sides, all assumptions were carefully examined, and solutions found were valued by all program participants.
Success Factor #3 - Setting Diversity
According to the Symposium planning group, another element in the Symposium's success was the rich diversity of the many perspectives of attendees because of their coming from a wide range of settings. Participants included people from K12 as well as higher education, faith and community-based initiatives, business and industry. Also present were representatives from varied human, social service, and governmental initiatives.
Success Factor #4 - Organizational Diversity
Another form of the complexity and richness of the views of participants evolved from the diversity of the organizations represented at the Symposium. Regional institutions, local organizations, nationwide, and international organizations were all represented in the dialogue. This range of perspectives helped to promote conversations built on comparison of practice, wondering about common factors, discussion of results, and discovery of common ground.
Success Factor #5 - Common Vision & Commitment
Regardless of role, setting, and organizational differences, ALL attendees focused on their common commitment to the development of highly effective and successful youth through highly effective mentoring programs and the support of powerful mentoring practices.
The Role of the IMA in Promoting Success !
The IMA's role in facilitating these conversations was a chief contributing factor
to the program's success. According to the IMA Symposium leaders, the common focus
and rich diversity of participants was what ensured the invigorating quest for discovery
of common and unique best practices which Symposium participants so valued. Such
a success strategy is the unique MISSION of the International Mentoring Association
and it permeates every activity the IMA conducts. It is precisely why the IMA is
considered the "premier source for effective mentoring in the world".
IMA expresses gratitude for the support provided by the Education Program of Barnard
College.
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