What's New @ iMentor

Each year, Barclays Capital presents the Chairman’s Award to recognize and celebrate the volunteer efforts of its employees in their local communities. Out of 376 nominations from 27 countries, iMentor was named a finalist for the Team Achievement Award of the Year - The Americas, thanks to the dedication and commitment of 64 Barclays volunteers. Barclays Capital represents the largest group of volunteers from any of iMentor’s corporate partners. 

Kel Huang, a Barclays Capital employee and mentor with iMentor, attended the awards ceremony in Madrid. He had an opportunity to meet Barclays Chairman, Marcus Agius, and speak with people from around the world about iMentor’s innovative program.

"Everyone was impressed by iMentor's unique model and the way in which it has embraced technology to build high-impact mentoring relationships", said Kel. "Because iMentor’s matches are long matches, as a mentor, you really see the student grow up in all facets of their life. I think that really resonated with people and that it really sets iMentor’s program apart."

Barclays Capital has partnered with iMentor since 2009. During the 2009 – 2010 program year, the Barclays Capital team volunteered over 2,000 hours with iMentor. This year, Barclays seeks to increase the number of employees involved.   

Learn more about becoming a mentor. 

Harlem embodies the title of Nina Simone’s song “To Be Young, Gifted and Black,” with a number of large youth organizations messaging the benefits of mentoring NYC youth and a large network of individuals passionate about community development. On Thursday, July 15^th, iMentor celebrated the spirit of Simone’s class composition, by hosting current and prospective African-American volunteers at Harlem Lanes just around the corner from the historic Apollo Theater. The event was sponsored by prominent groups including the United Negro College Fund (UNCF), Black Ivy Alumni League, the FAB network, and the JI Group.

Ellen Mahoney, Director of Volunteers for iMentor, had the opportunity to introduce special guests including current mentors Marcus Hall and Ambrose Wooden who spoke about their positive experiences with their mentees and shared personal accounts of how their own mentors impacted their decisions. Jacqueline Kidd, Area Development Director of Manhattan and Connecticut for UNCF, gave a call to action for mentors to engage students through mentoring and asked mentors to encourage their mentees to attend Historically Black Colleges and Universities.

Many attendees had a special connection to the power of mentoring and shared a bit about their own experiences. Rich A. is currently a mentor through his fraternity and learned about the event through the JI Group.

Mentors had an impact on the choices I’ve made. I want other folks to have the same opportunity. You get something out of it (mentoring). You get a new perspective and a new way of doing things."

Rich A. - event attendee

Kristin Chambliss, a former iMentor mentor and supporter, identified her natural connection to mentoring and has strived to further her connection to youth by being a student tutor to supplement her impact.

For Danielle Stewart, the theme, “To Be Young, Gifted and Black” really resonated with her:

Young doesn’t mean age limit, but it means that you haven’t maxed out your growth potential yet. Being gifted doesn’t just mean intellectual. It’s affording yourself the right opportunities. As for black, it could mean anything."

Danielle Stewart - event attendee

Attended by over 130 individuals, the event was considered a success by many attendees who congratulated the iMentor staff on the first event of its kind within the organization.

I think people came away inspired especially because they heard personal stories from our mentors. People could make the connection between the work that we do and how they've benefited from mentors themselves and in turn they can give back.

Ellen mahoney - imentor director of volunteers

Interested in Becoming a Mentor? Fill out an Online Application!

iMentor is in the middle of an ambitious five year growth plan, which includes national expansion through iMentor Interactive, as well as growing the core mentoring program in New York City. By 2013, iMentor will reach 3,000 mentee-mentor pairs in NewYork City and more than 50,000 participants across the country.In order to achieve our goal, iMentor needs committed, hardworking, talented and fun individuals to join our team. We’ll be adding more than 20 new positions in 2010-11, including the following:

Director of Individual Giving

The ideal candidate will have exemplary relationship building skills, the ability to listen and be excited by the responsibility of being accountable for significantly increasing individual donations to iMentor.

Director of Outreach and New Partnerships

Leading outreach efforts for iMentor Interactive (iMi), a social enterprise that combines iMentor’s mentoring advisory services and proprietary technology, building new partnerships with nonprofits, schools, foundations and corporate partners across the country to build a national mentoring movement. 

Technical Training and Support Coordinator

A TSC supports nonprofit organizations and schools across the country to leverage iMentor’s mentoring best practices and technology tools in their own programs to deliver high impact mentoring programs with measurable results.

Consider working for one of the nation’s most innovative and quickly growing nonprofits, recently recognized by The Nonprofit Times as one of the 50 Best Nonprofits to work for in 2010. Apply now to join the diverse, passionate, and fun-filled staff at iMentor.

Name of Mentee:  George K.

Name of Mentor: Dan M.

Partner School: Lower East Side Prep

Mentee

George is a junior at Lower East Side Preparatory Charter School (LESP).  George was born in the US, but moved with his parents to Malaysia (their native country) when he was 2 years old.  George grew up in Malaysia, dropping out of school at age 16.  At 18 years old, George moved alone to New York City and began working as a mechanic as he figured out how to re-enroll in school. While the experience of supporting himself alone in the US has been challenging, George has never been afraid of his situation.  “Maybe I’m brave,” he suggests.  “My mother always told me I was different and brave, even when I was small.  Not a lot of people can go alone to a new country.”  

Mentor

Dan is a 24-year-old New Jersey native who recently graduated from the University of Southern California.  Unsure of what he wanted to do with his life after graduation, Dan moved to Minneapolis, where he worked for a small Internet startup.  Dan eventually returned to the East Coast and took a job as a web developer for WEbook.com, a sitethat helps writers on their path to publishing.  A budding entrepreneur, Dan dreams of launching his own web-based startup in the future.

Read the full pair profile

Interested in becoming a mentor? Learn more