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July 2nd, 2009

Mentor of the Month: July

June 30th, 2009

iMi In the News: Wi-Mentor's Successful Second Year

One of iMentor Interactive’s first member organizations, Wi-Mentor, celebrated the close of their second program year earlier this month. Their end of year event was mentioned in two locations on the web reporting about local Connecticut news: The Bridgeport Banner and Wilton Bulletin. The stories discuss Wi-Mentor’s programming and their accomplished growth over the last two years.

iMentor Interactive’s technology and targeted curriculum facilitates Wi-Mentor’s matching and communication process, maximizing time for both students and mentors to connect through its safe, secure network. This aspect of the Wi-Mentor program was recognized specifically:

“The Wi-mentor program was recently recognized by the Governor’s Prevention Partnership for its innovative approach in getting more people involved in mentor-mentee relationships. One reason the Wi-mentor program was started is to make it easier for adults and young people to communicate regularly. Interacting by computer offers more time flexibility for participants than traditional one-on-one meetings in school settings.”

We would like to congratulate Wi-Mentor on a great program year! Thank you for partnering with us using iMi and working toward closing the national mentoring gap.

Read more in the Wilton Bulletin and the Bridgeport Banner

See all iMi member organizations

June 19th, 2009

iMentor Welcomes New Managing Director of Talent

We would like to welcome Kim Hendler as the newest addition to the iMentor team. She comes to iMentor with a strong passion for developing talent in the non-profit sector. We are thrilled to have her joining our team!

To learn more about Kim, read a brief bio

Interested in joining the iMentor team? Check out current job openings

June 2nd, 2009

The Brooklyn Eagle Reports on iMentor’s End of Year Event

Last Saturday, iMentor hosted our second annual End of Year Event in which all 1,000 mentee-mentor pairs were invited to come together in celebrating the end of another fantastic program year. There were games, sports, arts & crafts, food, music, and a good time had by all. Mary Frost of The Brooklyn Eagle was also in attendance to check it out. She wrote an article about the event and the iMentor program.

The article quotes iMentor CEO, Mike O’Brien saying,

"This was the biggest event in iMentor’s history... This year iMentor connected 1,000 high-need city high school students with mentors, mostly young professionals. This event celebrates a huge accomplishment..."

We are thrilled that the event had a great turnout, and that mentee-mentor pairs had such a great time. To read the article’s coverage of the event and the iMentor program, check out The Brooklyn Eagle.

Want to get involved? Learn More

Check out the entire article

June 1st, 2009

Mentors Honored at This Year’s YEB Spring Benefit

This year, iMentor’s Young Executive Board hosted another successful Spring Benefit. The event, which took place at Taj Lounge, brought out a great crowd of iMentor supporters. Everyone had the chance to enjoy delicious hors d’oeuvres & drinks, great music, and a silent auction. They also got the opportunity to learn a little bit more about some extraordinary mentors in our program.

iMentor’s Director of Volunteers, Ellen Mahoney, presented three outstanding mentors with awards recognizing their excellence and dedication.

	Catherine Hudak received the Rising Star Award. Catherine has had an incredible impact on her mentee already after only being matched in the Fall of 2008.
	Richard Frank received the Longevity Award. Richard has served as an inspiring role model over the years at iMentor (since 2006) and his enthusiasm can’t be beat.
	Joe Mellilo received the iMentor Dedication Award. Joe has volunteered as a mentor with us for 10 years and has mentored 5 teenagers in our program.

Congratulations to all of the honored mentors for their commitment to the iMentor program and the youth we serve.

Read brief speeches about each mentor

June 1st, 2009

Mentor of the Month: June
 

May 28th, 2009

Pair Profile: Yan Fei and Michaela

Yan Fei, originally from Guangzhou, China, moved to New York City just under three years ago. She now lives with her parents near Sunset Park, Brooklyn and is completing her senior year at Lower East Side Prep High School.

Michaela was born and grew up in Slovakia. After completing her undergraduate degree, she moved to the United States to enroll in a Masters rogram at Cornell University. Michaela has fond memories of the two mentors who helped her to define her academic and professional interests during her high school and college years. Now, as a first-time mentor herself, she is happy to be able to give similar guidance to her mentee, Yan Fei.

Yan Fei was excited to participate in the iMentor program because she saw it as a great chance to practice her English skills and learn more about American culture. She is proud to call Michaela her first English-speaking friend.

View the complete pair profile

May 28th, 2009

Pair Profile: Giovanni and Brandon

Giovanni is a senior at the Urban Assembly School for Careers in Sports. He is a goal-oriented student who sets a great example for the underclassmen at Careers in Sports. Giovanni has applied to several colleges and is waiting to hear back. His dream is to work as a teacher.

Brandon is an investment banker at Barclays Investment Bank. He comes to iMentor with previous mentoring experience tutoring 5th and 6th grade students from an under-resourced community in Boston.

Brandon and Giovanni are in a 1 1/2 year match that began in January of 2008. They hit the ground running with the weekly emails, and they really connected when they met for the first time at the kickoff event. Brandon was transferred to Boston for work in February, but he has not missed one email, has attended several events (travelling from Boston), and has scheduled meetings with Giovanni throughout the remainder of school year. The pair has handled the move as if nothing changed. 

View the complete pair profile

May 18th, 2009

New Mentor of the Month Initiative

This month, iMentor is introducing a new initiative to recognize the amazing work our volunteer mentors do. Every month, we will recognize one, outstanding mentor who goes above and beyond the requirements for the program. We are excited to take this opportunity to identify some of the amazing people who make the iMentor program work--our mentors!

Below is the first in this series: our mentor of the month for May.

Interested in becoming a mentor? Learn more

May 18th, 2009

iMentor Board Members in the Spotlight

iMentor Board members have been showing up in the press lately. We, at iMentor, feel so lucky to be surrounded and supported by such inspiring people!  

In a speech by Michelle Obama during Time Magazine’s “100 Most Influential People” Gala, she recognized Charles Best’s commitment to serving his community.

During her speech, the First Lady says:

“But, at a time when our nation is facing unprecedented challenges, encouraging careers in public service and social innovation is more important than ever. Already, we are seeing young people leading the way with their entrepreneurial spirit, energy and commitment to serving their communities. For example, Charles Best, a former Bronx public school teacher, started an online philanthropic marketplace called Donors Choose to help teachers who were spending up to $500 a year out of their own pockets for basic classroom materials. Through Donors Choose, ordinary citizens can directly fund projects initiated by enterprising public school teachers. Online donations have helped students in San Jose become avid readers through the Dr. Seuss series. An art class in the Bronx had no paint brushes. Now every student has a set.”

Read the full transcript of Michelle Obama’s speech

Watch some video from the event

In an article for Baruch College, Bill Richards shares insight, experience & the power of mentoring.

From the article:

“The art of building and maintaining relationships with the world’s most prominent hedge fund executives is one that Richards has mastered. He explained trust is crucial on his role as a hedge fund relationship director. He has built a reputation within the industry with his intellect and work ethnic over the past 26 years... Among his most rewarding experiences is his role as a mentor to several students. In addition to Baruch, Richards has given lectures at campuses across the country. “Giving back to young people and giving them access to who I know and access to the business is extremely important,” he said... Richards, who has an unwavering passion for helping students, also runs a UBS speaker series every summer called "The Best and the Brightest" where 15 hedge fund managers gather to speak to summer interns.”

Read the full article

Learn more about iMentor’s Board of Directors

May 18th, 2009

Mentee in iMentor Program Interviewed on WNYC

Last month, a mentee in the iMentor program at The International High School at Prospect Heights (IHSPH), Mukta M., was one of several students in the school to speak with WNYC reporter, Beth Fertig. WNYC spoke with students about their international high school and discussed what it means to be an immigrant in America--and in New York specifically.

Mukta M., iMentor student at IHSPS

Mukta M. is originally from Bangladesh; she moved to Brooklyn with her family five years ago. She describes herself as living in a jar, or a closed culture, before she came to the United States. Mukta spoke specifically about her religious skepticism and rejecting Islam. Although she is met with opposition from some peers, Mukta says she always feels her voice is heard in her school.

Mukta says:

“Everyone cares about everyone in here. They don't mind who believes in what, I think.”

The students who were interviewed have a lot to say about what it means to be a recent immigrant in America, their own ethnic identity, and how their school has helped in that process.

Read or listen to the full story on WNYC

My 15th, 2009

Now Hiring: Join the iMentor Team!

iMentor is currently hiring for several positions in different areas of the organization. If you want to become part of a fast-growing, innovative organization helping to improve the lives of young people from underserved communities in New York City, this is your chance!

Check out the following employment opportunities:

Managing Director of Talent

Chief Program Officer

iMentor Interactive Partnership Manager

iMentor Interactive Training and Support Coordinator

iMentor NYC Program Coordinator

Alumni Pairs Coordinator

April 7th, 2009

Pair Profile: Qian and Alexandra

Qian is a senior at the International High School at Prospect Heights and lives in the Sunset Park neighborhood of Brooklyn. She moved to the United States from China over 3 years ago and works at a Chinese restaurant to help support her family.

Before being matched, Qian described herself as lacking confidence. She said that many people told her she was “thin-skinned” and shy, but she didn’t think this was the case. She just felt that she hadn’t learned how to communicate with people and had fear about being made fun of for her English-speaking ability. She was eager to improve and requested a mentor who was outgoing and hard-working.

Alexandra was born and raised in Manhattan and grew up in the NYC public schools. She studied Communication and Psychology at the University of Miami before returning to New York City where she currently lives. She was extremely shy growing up and has been able to draw upon her very different, yet parallel, experiences to provide support and encouragement to Qian.

View the complete pair profile

April 1st, 2009

See iMentor Interactive in Action

iMentor has just put together a video overview of iMentor Interactive, iMentor's e-mentoring platform. The video features interviews with our members, testimonials from our mentors and mentees, and footage of all of the platform’s many features.

To watch the video, click below:

Like what you see? Sign up for a live, web-based demo next Wednesday from 3pm-4pm EST.

You may also request more information