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Keep up on the latest imentor news

Our blog features posts on new program developments, profiles of our mentor-mentee pairs and news from the mentoring and youth-development fields. Check back often to see what we've been up to or sign up to receive email updates.

The Freshman Year of College: iMentor Video

Posted on March 11, 2013 - 12:02pm

The freshman year of college is exciting—and challenging. In this inspiring new video, mentees in their freshman year of college and their mentors tell us about the transition to college. Mentees talk about the differences they’ve experienced between high school and college and how their mentors helped them adjust to the workload, new environment, and being away from home. Mentors share what they learned through their own college experiences and how that is helping them support their mentees.

Join the Online Donor Drive

Posted on March 1, 2013 - 2:42pm

The mentors in our New York City program work hard to build strong personal relationships with their mentees to empower them to succeed in college. But many of our mentors don’t stop there. Every year, our mentors proudly share their inspiring mentoring stories through iMentor’s annual Online Donor Drive campaign. During the month of March, mentors create fundraising pages and share them with their networks--expanding their impact beyond a single mentee to support the mentoring relationships of the 2,400 students in our program.

The Online Donor Drive officially kicks off today, and is already off to a fantastic start. In fact, our mentors have already raised a combined $12,025 toward our $60,000 goal by personalizing their fundraising pages and asking their friends, family, and colleagues to contribute to the campaign! Andrew Barbaccia expressed how fulfilling it has been to watch his mentee, Michael, begin to link his efforts in high school to his goals for college and his career. And Karen Gamarra shared the pride she feels for her mentee of three years, Khadijah, who was recently named valedictorian of her graduating class and will be starting college this fall.

You can join the Online Donor Drive team today by creating your own fundraising page  as part of a school team on Crowdrise. Just click the blue "Create your Fundraiser” button, which gives you the chance to share your story and encourage your network to support iMentor. And anyone can support the campaign by donating today. 

Each year, we’re inspired by the stories our mentors share. Thank you to all the mentors who have already gotten started. We’re excited to read more amazing mentoring stories as more of our mentors sign up to fundraise through the Online Donor Drive!

Need help getting your Online Donor Drive fundraiser started? Download our Online Donor Drive Toolkit and our Top 10 Donor Drive Tips.Questions? Email Suzanne Chipkin.

Goldman Sachs Mentor Turns College Obstacle into Mentoring Opportunity

Posted on February 25, 2013 - 12:32pm
Peter (left) with his former mentee, Darius.
Peter Karl was about to begin his freshman year at Tulane University in August 2005 when Hurricane Katrina hit New Orleans. In addition to the unprecedented damage sustained by the entire city and its inhabitants, Tulane was forced to evacuate its students and cancel all classes for the fall semester. In the midst of the devastation, Peter and his family scrambled to devise an alternate plan for Peter’s education.

“I had guidance counselors who helped me apply to college the first time around,” said Peter. “But with this, there was so much we were unprepared for.”

Peter transferred to the University of Delaware, his mother’s alma mater. He knows he was fortunate to have had the support he needed to face this sudden and unpredictable college obstacle. And going through the experience made him want to give back.

“I wanted to help others, people who didn’t have the resources I had,” said Peter, who is now an associate at Goldman Sachs. “So when I heard about iMentor through my firm years later, it seemed like the perfect opportunity.”

Peter is currently in his third year as an iMentor volunteer and was recently matched with his second mentee after helping his first, Darius, apply to college and successfully transition into his freshman year at Long Island University’s Brooklyn campus. In June 2012, Peter volunteered to share his mentoring experiences and successes with his colleagues at Goldman Sachs, one of iMentor’s 100 Mentor Pledge corporate partners, during an iMentor information session at the company.

“It’s a really great feeling to help a student achieve what he sets out to do, with just a little bit of guidance,” said Peter. “I shared that with people at my firm and they still come up to me and talk about it. Professionally, it’s been great for me, because I’ve met more people.”
 
When Peter and Darius were matched in 2010 during Darius’s junior year of high school and they began e-mailing through iMentor’s e-mail platform, the teen wasn’t sure where or how he would apply to college. Peter took the lead on helping Darius start and stay on track throughout the college application process.

“We sat down together one Saturday and had a call with his guidance counselor to make sure we had everything correct,” said Peter. “We also talked to his mother to get her information for the FAFSA, and by the end of the day, he had all the information he needed to apply.”

Now, with his second match underway, Peter is looking forward to helping Roberto, a junior at KIPP NYC College Preparatory School, realize his college hopes and ambitions. He asserts that iMentor’s college success curriculum is what makes this work possible.

“iMentor provides these students with the resources and network of people—from mentors to program coordinators—who can really help them get into college if that’s what they are driven to do.”

Looking Beyond Academics for College Success at Morgan Stanley in New York

Posted on February 21, 2013 - 4:26pm

Last night, iMentor hosted an iConnect panel and reception at the New York headquarters of our longest-standing corporate partner, Morgan Stanley. The discussion explored factors behind the college graduation gap for low-income, first-generation students—and how schools, individuals, and communities can join forces to close it. iMentor Chief Program Officer Tarika Barrett was joined by thought leaders in the fields of education, mentoring, and college readiness who have unique insight into the scope of the challenge as well as promising solutions.

View photos of the event here.

Tarika Barrett moderated the panel, posing questions to panelists Vanda Belusic-Vollor, executive director of the New York City Department of Education’s Office of Postsecondary Readiness; Doug Borchard, managing director at New Profit, Inc.; and Edward Fergus, Ph.D., deputy director of the Metropolitan Center for Urban Education and research assistant professor at New York University. Panelists discussed the critical role that specific skills such as critical thinking, perseverance, and social capital skills, play in college success. Educators and policy makers have only recently shifted from focusing solely on academic preparation, panelists said, and schools, corporations, and nonprofits can partner in innovative ways to help students from low-income communities develop crucial skills beyond academics.

Our mentors also had the opportunity to ask panelists questions about college preparation and completion, iMentor’s mentoring approach, and the best ways they can support their mentees. Afterward, they met and mingled with one another at a special reception.

Thanks to Morgan Stanley, our panelists, participants, and audience for collaborating on this unique learning opportunity and for making the event a success.

iConnect events are special opportunities for mentors and supporters to become more involved with iMentor through social events and learning opportunities. Join our mailing list to learn about upcoming events.

Morgan Stanley to Host Our Signature iConnect Event of the Year

Posted on February 11, 2013 - 3:46pm

You are invited to join us on February 20 at iMentor’s signature iConnect event of the year, Getting to Graduation: Looking Beyond Academics for College Success, at Morgan Stanley’s headquarters in New York. This dynamic panel discussion will feature leaders in education, mentoring, and college readiness addressing the critical importance of college success and completion in ensuring the lifetime employment and earning potential of today’s youth. The event will culminate with a wine and cheese reception where you can meet, mingle, and get to know iMentor volunteers, partners, and supporters, and learn more about the communities we serve.

With iMentor’s own Chief Program Officer Tarika Barrett, Ph.D. serving as moderator, panelists will explore factors behind the college graduation gap for low-income students, and how schools, individuals, and communities can provide support—beyond academics—to young people on their path to success. Panelists, all of whom are on the frontlines of these issues in their daily work, include the Executive Director of the New York City Department of Education’s Office of Postsecondary Readiness Vanda Belusic-Vollor, Managing Director of New Profit, Inc., and iMentor Board Member Doug Borchard, and Deputy Director of New York University’s Metropolitan Center for Urban Education Edward Fergus-Arcia, Ph.D.

Last year’s iConnect event held at Google was a huge success, bringing together our mentors, supporters, and community partners to learn about making school relevant to students’ lives and career goals, improving curriculum, and integrating technology inside and outside of the classroom.

Don’t miss the opportunity to join us for this inspirational evening. Get your ticket today.

Meet the iMentor Interactive Partnership Team

Posted on January 23, 2013 - 1:13pm
iMi partnership team members with staff from College Possible, City Year, and Miami Dade College, three of our partners.

The iMentor Interactive (iMi) partnership team in New York City works with organizations throughout the country that share iMentor’s goal of empowering youth from low-income communities to graduate high school, succeed in college, and achieve their life ambitions. The iMi team is comprised of dedicated, knowledgeable mentoring experts who help our partners implement their own mentoring programs using the iMentor college success model. Each iMi partner receives 40 hours of intensive in-person staff onboarding. Partners are also invited to participate in ongoing training webinars and partner learning group sessions.

Adrienne Kupper, Managing Director of iMentor Interactive, and Hanh Tran, Director of iMi Partnerships, work together to optimize partner program quality and ensure that all partners receive the training they need to address the unique needs of the young people they serve. James Wilson, Director of Outreach, oversees strategy to help drive the growth of our community of partners nationwide.

Alexander James, Courtney McKeown, Josh Clayton, Nadia Khan, and Tara Goderez, iMi Partnership Managers, assist each of our partners with program design and implementation, onboard and train staff, and address ongoing challenges once programs launch. They also hold weekly one-hour calls with iMi partners to address pressing issues as they arise. Cherika Wilson and David Moscoso, iMi National Partnership Specialists, provide partners with ongoing support and training to refine their programs and increase effectiveness. Talya Oberfield, Strategic Initiatives Specialist, focuses on developing opportunities to continue to build the iMi community and refine partner resources.

The iMi partnership team is proud to serve as a direct link between iMentor’s New York City mentoring program and more than 15 iMi partners throughout the country this year, sharing best practices developed in New York City to help partners strengthen their programming.

The iMentor Interactive program is continuing to expand. Interested in becoming an iMi partner? Find out how!

City Year Pair Working Toward College Success

Posted on January 21, 2013 - 2:18pm

Deena, a former City Year service corps member, has returned to the organization’s fold to mentor a student in City Year’s first mentoring program, cyMentor. City Year partnered with iMentor in 2011 to launch cy-Mentor, a program in the iMentor model, at Mastery Charter School - Shoemaker Campus in West Philadelphia. The program supports City Year’s mission to help students nationwide who are at risk of dropping out to reach 10th grade on track and on time. The cyMentor program provides the additional support needed to ensure that Mastery Charter School 10th and 11th graders build skills to graduate high school college-ready. Deena was matched with Kim, a junior at Mastery, in 2011—and in just one year, she has already seen her mentee grow more confident and focused on applying to college.

When Kim was first introduced to Deena, Kim was a bit shy and anxious about sharing her fears, hopes, and goals with an adult she had never met before. Over the course of the year, Deena and Kim took full advantage of monthly in-person events to get to know one another better, discuss Kim’s progress in school, and identify resources for the college application process. They also wrote detailed weekly e-mails to each other, building a solid foundation of trust and staying up-to-date on their progress toward Kim’s college preparation goals. The pair also focused on helping Kim develop stronger test-taking strategies and keep from overthinking her approach, which had been getting in the way of her success. “Kim is a very driven individual who can be hard on herself,” said Deena, who recognizes how mentoring can support students overcome common challenges. Additionally, Deena has assisted Kim in tracking down community service opportunities for extra class credit, which she can also list on her college résumé.

As a result of their hard work together, Kim has grown into a more open, outgoing student who confides in Deena and eagerly looks forward to seeing her at monthly events. Kim has also made strides toward being ready for college and has identified psychology or social work as a potential career path. When asked what she has learned from her mentor this year, Kim said: “To never be afraid, to assert yourself, and to go for what you want.” 

Are you an iMi partner with your own pair success story to share? We’d love to hear from you. Please submit stories to Hanh Tran, Director of Partnerships for iMentor Interactive, via e-mail at hanh@imentor.org.

iMentor Students Thank Their Mentors on National Thank Your Mentor Day

Posted on January 17, 2013 - 12:57pm

January 17 is National Thank Your Mentor Day in National Mentoring Month, and iMentor mentees at our partner schools in New York City are taking the opportunity to express gratitude to their mentors for their unwavering support, encouragement, and advice. They acknowledge their mentors' positivity, help with academics, and assistance throughout the college application process. In this special video, see what it has meant to them to have the guidance of their mentors as they develop college readiness and work to achieve their goals and ambitions. One mentee says, "you always told me to never give up."

You can help a high school student realize her college goals by signing up to become a mentor today: www.imentor.org/signup.

(Not Really) Saying Goodbye to iMentor President Caroline Kim Oh

Posted on January 9, 2013 - 4:38pm

Today marks the end of an era for iMentor—our president, Caroline Kim Oh, is concluding her 12-and-half-year tenure with us. “I’m so grateful to have been part of the evolution of iMentor over the past 12 years from four people in a tiny, borrowed office to a national organization,” said Caroline. “I’m proud of what iMentor has already achieved, and the organization is poised to realize even greater success for its students, volunteers, and partners in the future.”

Caroline joined iMentor in 2000 as its first Program Director, mere months after John Griffin, Rich Buery, and Matt Klein founded the organization. With no permanent office and just a handful of mentors and mentees, iMentor consisted of a small, committed team that shared an ambitious vision for how mentoring could help young people on their path to success. In 2002, Caroline became iMentor’s Executive Director and successfully expanded the organization by hiring top talent, securing major funders, and launching iMentor Interactive, a national partnership program. In these roles, Caroline helped transform what started as a small pilot project into a successful youth mentoring program that served more than 1,000 mentor-mentee pairs annually.

Assuming the role of President in 2007, Caroline began focusing on board and leadership group development as well as special strategic projects. Recently, she spearheaded iMentor’s annual benefit and launched a successful Women’s Committee. As Caroline moves on to pursue new challenges in the nonprofit sector, she can take pride in the fact that she played a pivotal role in helping iMentor realize—and exceed—its early ambitions. Today, iMentor boasts a staff of more than 80 people serving 2,400 mentor-mentee pairs in New York City, and 15 nonprofit partners across the country.

Caroline has been more than an employee at iMentor—she is an embodiment of the spirit of the organization itself. Staff, mentors, board members, and mentees consider her their own mentor, friend, and fairy godmother. In recognition of her leadership, iMentor Board Chair John Griffin recently created the Caroline Kim Oh Mentoring Award. This award, which includes a $2,000 stipend toward a student’s education, will be given each year to one graduating mentor-mentee pair who has demonstrated a commitment to developing a strong mentoring relationship, overcoming obstacles, and working together to ensure the mentee is poised to succeed in college. 

Confident that iMentor will always be a part of her life, Caroline will continue to lead iMentor’s Women’s Committee and volunteer as a mentor. “Anyone who knows me understands that I’ll never really ‘leave’ iMentor,” said Caroline. “I’m happy I can stay involved with our students, mentors, supporters, and staff in the coming years.”

At iMentor, we will miss Caroline’s daily presence but will benefit from her lasting legacy and continued contributions to the iMentor community. The entire iMentor staff joins our CEO, Mike O’Brien, and our board in wishing Caroline well in her next adventure.

Celebrating the One-Year Anniversary of iMentor’s 100 Mentor Pledge

Posted on January 4, 2013 - 1:45pm

This January, just in time for National Mentoring Month, iMentor is celebrating the anniversary of our 100 Mentor Pledge, a corporate mentor-recruitment initiative that Mayor Bloomberg announced in his 2012 State of the City Address. Through the Pledge, 10 leading companies committed to recruit 100 of their employees to serve as mentors for high school students in low-income communities.

In the first year of the pledge, our partners have reached their recruitment benchmarks on the path to securing 100 mentors each. Barclays, Goldman Sachs, and Morgan Stanley have already reached or surpassed the 100-mentor goal. We’re proud that this school year, one-third of our 2,400 mentors are employees from our Pledge companies.

Joan Steinberg, Head of Community Affairs at Morgan Stanley, shared her excitement about the Pledge last year: “We are so proud to have helped iMentor get its start more than a decade ago. Then as now, our employees have embraced the opportunity to share key skills with New York City students, positioning these young people for greater academic and professional success.”

We are pleased to recognize the efforts of the 100 Mentor Pledge Companies over the last year, without which our work would not be possible: Accenture, Barclays Capital, Bloomberg, Citi, Deutsche Bank, Ernst & Young LLP, Goldman Sachs, Marsh & McLennan Companies, Morgan Stanley, and UBS. We are thrilled to watch the inspiring results of their involvement unfold in the lives of our mentees for years to come, who benefit each day from their mentors’ positive reinforcement and unwavering support.

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