2011 Michigan Mentoring Month

“Pass It On”

2011 MMM: What is it?

• Held every January

• 10th annual opportunity to focus attention on mentoring

• Held on a national and statewide level

• Goals:– Raise awareness of mentoring– Recognize current mentoring matches– Recruit potential mentors– Celebrate mentoring/engage your matches

2011 MMM: Themes

• Michigan’s Theme = “Pass It On”– Tied to Mentor Michigan’s mission

• National Theme = “Help them get there. Be a mentor.”– Changes year to year

• Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service (January 17, 2011)– Volunteer– Plan a project– Encourage service

• Thank Your Mentor Day (January 25, 2011)– Recognize – Get mentees

involved– Invite public to

make financial contributions to mentoring

2011 MMM: Special Days

2011 MMM: What Can You Do?

• Raise Awareness!– Share your organization’s efforts with the

public• Create an event• Distribute a press release• Submit an op-ed

2011 MMM: What Can You Do?

• Raising Awareness Examples:– Op-Ed

• Celebrate mentoring month with Big Brothers Big Sisters by Janene Weis, Big Brothers Big Sisters, A Community of Caring

– Letter to the Editor• Letter to the editor: January is National Mentoring

Month by Jennifer Spitler, Big Brothers Big Sisters

– Guest Column• The miracle of mentoring by Big Jim Edgerton,

Brothers Big Sisters Director of Community Partnerships

2011 MMM: What Can You Do?

• Recognize!– Thank your volunteers, mentors, and

mentees• Create an event• Honor their efforts• Spread the word

2011 MMM: What Can You Do?

• Recognizing Example:– The Yunion Inc.’s “Continuing the Legacy…

Be A Mentor” Recognition Event• Mentor recognition event in honor of Dr. Martin

Luther King, Jr. at Wayne State University• More than 60 mentors, mentees, volunteers,

staff, and families attended to hear guest speaker Senator Hansen Clarke provide testimony on the impact of mentoring

• Recruit!– Encourage more individuals to give their

time to a young person• Create an event• Get the word out• Reach out to new audiences

2011 MMM: What Can You Do?

• Recruiting Example:– Clinton County 4-H Key Mentoring and

Creating Connections program • Open House to recruit mentors and educate the

community about the program• All of the evening’s speakers consisted of

individuals currently serving as mentors

2011 MMM: What Can You Do?

• Celebrate!– Provide an opportunity (either celebratory

or service-related) for your matches• Create an event• Emphasize special match activities

2011 MMM: What Can You Do?

• Celebration/Match Activity Example:– Big Brothers Big Sisters Michigan Capital

Region• Mentors and mentees went ice skating with

members of the Michigan State University hockey team

• Thanked volunteers at annual BIG Appreciation Dinner

2011 MMM: What Can You Do?

2011 MMM: What Can WE Do?

• Share your efforts with broader audiences:– Submit your events– Share your news– Provide us with photos– Keep us up in the loop

2011 MMM: What Can WE Do?

• Provide you with resources:– Use our Toolkit– Check out our research– Apply for our mini-grants– Check out what others have done

2011 MMM: Resources

• Mentor Michigan’s MMM Toolkit– Variety of tools– Free to use– Support provided– Available at www.mentormichigan.org

• National Mentoring Month– www.nationalmentoringmonth.org– www.whomentoredyou.org

2011 MMM: Mentor Michigan’s Toolkit

• Mentor Michigan’s MMM Toolkit:– Save-the-Date– Form op-eds– Template media advisory– Public Service Announcements– Mentor Michigan Census results– Event ideas– Event/Media planning guides– MLK Day materials– Thank Your Mentor Day materials– MORE IS COMING!

2011 MMM: What’s coming this January?

• Continual 2011 MMM Toolkit updates

• Public Service Announcement statewide distribution

• Promotion of local events

• Outreach drives to various audiences

• Governor’s Proclamation

• 2011 MMM recap

2011 MMM: Questions?

2011 Michigan Mentoring Month Contact:

Elyse V. WalterCommunication Specialist

verberkmoese@michigan.gov(517) 241-0063