PROGRAM HANDBOOKA YOUNG PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVE

2013-2014

S T U D E N T S O F S O C I A L J U S T I C E M E N T O R I N G P R O G R A M

Siena Col lege AmeriCorps* VISTA Fel lows

5 1 5 L o u d o n R o a d , L o u d o n v i l l e , N Y 1 2 2 11 • t e l e p h o n e : 5 1 8 . 7 8 2 . 6 8 8 6 • f a x : 5 1 8 ) 7 8 6 - 5 0 8 0 ( f a x ) •

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Table of Contents

PROGRAM OVERVIEW! 1

Vision! 1

MENTOR OVERVIEW! 2

....................................................................................................Mentor: Knowledge, Skills & Attitudes 2

...........................................................................................Practical Strategies for Effective Mentoring 2

MENTOR EXPECTATIONS! 3

MENTEE EXPECTATIONS! 4

DO’S &DON’TS! 5

REQUIRED AND SUGGESTED ACTIVITIES! 6

O r g a n i z a t i o n N a m e! P r o p o s a l Ti t l e

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P R O G R A M O V E R V I E W

Vi s i o nThe Siena College AmeriCorps* VISTA Program will serve as a conduit channeling meaningful profes-sionalism in The Capital Region. By connecting our VISTAs with mentors who will serve as a trusted guide, there to counsel or coach them, they will gain the skill to foster purposeful relationships between them selves and individuals interested in helping them to develop skills and find opportunities for per-sonal and professional growth.

M i s s i o nTo create and expand a network of community partnerships with Capital Region Professionals who have the personal and professional growth of the Siena College AmeriCorps* VISTA Fellows in mind and can

provide guidance due to their relevant experience and knowledge.

W h a t i s M e n t o r i n g“History gives many examples of the value of mentoring. The most famous instance was chronicled by Homer in

“The Odyssey.” Homer tells us that around 1200 BC, the adventurer Odysseus made ready to leave for the

siege of Troy. Before sailing, he appointed a guardian to his household. For the next 10 years, this guardian acted

faithfully as a teacher, advisor, friend and surrogate father to Telemachus, son of Odysseus. The mythical guardian’s

name was Mentor. Homer’s story reflects one of the oldest attempts by a society to facilitate mentoring. The Greeks based these relationships on a basic principle of human survival: people learn skills, culture and values directly from other people to whom they look up to or admire.”

-- ”Executive mentoring Handbook, Albany-Schenectady Chamber of Commerce”

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M E N T O R O V E R V I E W

Mentor: Knowledge, Skills & Attitudes

Knowledge:!• An understanding of the VISTA legacy, vision, mission, and VISTA Assignment De-

scription(VAD) goals, • An understanding of the personal and professional goals of mentee(s).• Insight into how the VISTA Fellow’s strengths and weaknesses match or frustrate the

needs of their project

Skills:• Active listening skills• Ability to ask probing questions – without always giving an answer• Ability to set clear boundaries to avoid dependency-producing behaviors• Relationship building skills

Attitudes:• Comfortable letting go of the need to feel competent (give yourself and the mentee

permission to say, “I don’t know,” thereby creating an opportunity to learn)• Supportive of independent thinking and problem-solving• Self-directed role modeling• Positive, Enthusiastic, Professional

Practical Strategies for Effective MentoringThe first decision you have to make as a Mentor is whether you want to pursue formal mentoring relationships with your VISTA Fellow or more informal relationships.

If you decide to create more formal mentoring relationships with mentee(s), this entails two important steps:

(1) Assessment of learning needs(2) Plan and implement strategic mentoring activities

If you decide to create a more informal mentorship relationship with mentee(s), this entails acceptance of the fact that at times, the informal mentor will be called on to guide the mentee through a challenging personal situation. In this context, the mentor’s goal may be to act as an ally or coach to VISTA Fellow when they are struggling with sensitive situations.

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M E N T O R E X P E C T A T I O N S

Share Knowledge and Experiences

Share knowledge about specific jobs, career development, organizations, industries and business topics. Share personal experiences that help mentees learn and grow professionally.

Coach and Guide Mentees

Provide mentees with perspective and advice. Offer suggestions and feedback based on mentees’ experi-ences and encourage them to explore

Facilitate Networking

Commit to serve as a resource for your mentee. Connect your mentee with other professionals to allow them to gain different perspectives.

Provide a Positive Role Model

Serve as a role model for your mentee and teach them the importance of professionalism.

Maintain Respect

Uphold core relationship values including privacy, confidentiality, honesty and integrity.

Commit to the Entire Program

Commit to actively meet with your mentee at least six times throughout the program. Keep scheduled ap-pointments with your mentee or reschedule if necessary. Attend the mandatory events.

Take Responsibility for your Relationship

Take ownership to keep your mentee relationship moving forward. Be proactive to ensure that the goals set by you and your mentee are being met.

Click here to access our mentee/mentor profile builder survey which will help us build your Mentor profile and pairing preferences

S T U D E N T S O F S O C I A L J U S T I C E

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M E N T E E E X P E C T A T I O N S

Be Prepared

Understand the mentor’s background, industry and company. Ensure that goals are established, topics are identified, and questions are crafted. Be prepared to talk about current news events and how they may impact your assignment or career.

Take Responsibility for your Relationship

Take ownership to keep your mentor relationship moving forward. Be proactive to ensure that the goals set by you and your mentor are being met. Realize that having a mentor is a privilege and work hard to leverage the opportunity.

Actively Listen and Ask Questions

Listen to the feedback provided by your mentor. Develop questions that fuel strategic conversation and guidance.

Maintain Respect

Uphold core relationship values including privacy, confidentiality, honesty and integrity.

Commit to the Entire Program

Commit to actively meet with your mentor at least six times throughout the program. Keep scheduled ap-pointments with your mentor or reschedule if necessary. Attend the mandatory events.

Click here to access our mentee/mentor profile builder survey which will help us build your Mentee profile and pairing preferences

S T U D E N T S O F S O C I A L J U S T I C E

S t u d e n t s o f J u s t i c e! M e n t o r i n g P r o g r a m

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D O ’ S & D O N ’ T S

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M e n t e eDO:

Initiate contact with your Mentor.

Plan an agenda for each meeting – be focused.

Keep appointments with your Mentor and be punctual.

Maintain a high level of trust and professionalism.

Respect confidentiality.

Accept constructive feedback from your Mentor.

Maintain consistent contact with your Mentor, even when you do not have a pressing issue to discuss.

DON’T

Neglect to contact your Mentor to set up meetings.

M e n t o rDO:

Make efforts to keep your appointments with your Mentee.

Actively listen to questions and concerns.

Encourage discussion.

Approach discussions with an open mind.

Maintain a high level of trust and professionalism.

Respect confidentiality.

DON’T

Hesitate to provide your Mentee with constructive feedback about opportunities for personal and profes-

sional development.

Hesitate to contact your Mentee if you have not heard

from them in a while.

R E Q U I R E D A N D S U G G E S T E D A C T I V I T I E S

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The completion of these activities are mandatory.

They help lay the foundation of the mentoring partnership.

NETWORKING UNIVERSITY FUNCTIONS: Mentee

Opportunities to meet potential mentors will be available through attending these events.

PLAN A SERVICE DAY/PROJECT: Mentee

Decide on an opportunity, at your site or otherwise, in which your mentor can commit their interests and abilities to.

CAREER SHADOWING: Mentor

Plan for your mentee to shadow you at work to learn about your industry, company, role, organizational culture and work environment and career path

Please review the suggested activities listed below to make the most of your mentorship experience.

MEET OTHER REGIONAL PROFESSIONALS

Attend a local professional function together, to network with other professionals in order to hear different perspectives on busi-ness and the region and its regional assets such as cultural events, economic development programs.

PROJECT BASED LEARNING

Discuss a project or issue with your mentor/mentee. Offer per-spective based on professional experiences.

ON-SITE MEETING

Attend a business meeting with your mentor.

PROFESSIONAL GROWTH

Discuss professional goals, share ideas and strategies for effective practice and professional and personal development.

FUTURE PLANNING

Discuss what it takes to be a successful professional, how to move up the career ladder, and balance work and life effectively.

FIGHTING POVERTY IN THE CAPITAL REGION OF NEW YORK SINCE 2008

The Siena College AmeriCorps VISTA Fellows Program is one of two programs across the United States that is based at a college campus and focuses on building sustainable, long-term, developmental campus-community partnerships. This unique fellowship program places participants in one of our partner organizations where they are tasked to not only serve their site but mobilize the resources of Siena College.

Throughout the year of service, VISTAs make a vow of poverty where they agree to live at levels of subsistence as a means of full immersion into the communities they serve. This precludes us from earning additional income beyond our living stipend and offers a more in depth perspective of the pressures these communities face everyday.

PARTICIPANTS IN THE PROGRAM:

Serve at a local school, non-profit, or other community organization

Build the organizational, administrative, and financial capacity of the organization

Build campus-community connections between Siena College at the Capital Region community

Develop professional and leadership skills

Connect academic opportunities to service

Q u e s t i o n s ?Contact :

S T U D E N T S O F S O C I A L J U S T I C E M E N T O R I N G P R O G R A M

Siena Col lege AmeriCorps* VISTA Fel lows

J o h a n M a t t h e w s , S i e n a C o l l e g e A m e r i C o r p s V I S TA L e a d e r | 7 8 2 6 9 6 3 | J u m a t t h e w s @ s i e n a . e d u | o r L a m a r a B u r g e s s ,

S i e n a C o l l e g e A m e r i C o r p s V I S TA P r o g r a m C o o r d i n a t o r | 7 8 2 6 9 6 2 | L b u r g e s s @ s i e n a . e d u |

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