University of San DiegoUnited Front Multicultural Center

Link Peer Mentor Retreat Summer 2015

Sarah Burch October 14, 2014

Who: Link Peer Mentors When: Late August 2015 Place: TBD (on-campus?) Time Frame: 4 hours (half-day program)

Introduction

Retreat Goals and Outcomes

Goals

Allow mentors get to know each

other

Provide information about the program Develop

mentor diversity

awareness and

leadership skills

Retreat Goals and Outcomes (cont.)

Outcomes

Promote trust among mentor

students

Increase awareness of

minority groups

Increase self-awareness of

mentors

Motivation for mentors before they meet their mentees

Link Peer Mentors

Kick Off Retreat!

8:00 Arrive

8:00 - 8:30 Icebreaking Activity

8:30 - 9:30 Group Awareness Activity

9:30 - 9:45 Snack Break

9:45 - 10:15 Assumptions Group Discussion

10:15 - 11:00 Mentor/Mentee Role Play

11:10 - 11:15 Break

11:15 - 11:45 Closing Activity

11:45 - 12:00 Final Thoughts and Questions

Schedule

Ice Breakers!

#1 Switcheroo! Mentors are given a

DIFFERENT mentor name tag on arrival

Must mingle with the others until everyone receives the correct name tag.

#2 Who do you think I am? Students will pick a partner and

answer the following questions about them on a note card without asking their partner.

1. What kind of car do I drive?2. What is my major?3. What is my best friend like? 4. What thought would I like to put

in one million fortune cookies?We will use these cards for a later activity!

“What’s your label?” Students are given a label for their forehead - can’t see their own label Label Instructions include “pat me on the back,”

“give me a high five,” “smile at me,” AND “turn away from me”

Students must interact with each other ONLY following the instructions written on the other person’s forehead

Awareness Activity

Afterwards mentors will be invited to share how the experience made them feel.

In particular, those who had the “turn away from me” label.

Some questions to consider…- What was your initial reaction to being welcomed/rejected?-How do oppressed groups react to their situation? -Are there ways nonverbal behavior can be changed to make all individuals feel included?

Find previous partner that they completed their card with the assumptions in the ice breaking activity.

1. In turns, partners will give correct answer the questions.

2. Mentors will complete the same exercise with the new partner.

3. Concludes with a group reflection on what they learned from the exercise

how/if their assumptions changed during second time which time was more difficult – why?

Discussion (Assumptions)

In pairs, students will take turns acting as mentor and mentee in situations including:

Role Play

Mentee is having roommate trouble and asks for advice

How to encourage mentee if they aren’t interested in participating in UFMC events

Mentee is a first generation student and having trouble with their family “understanding” how busy or

tired they are with studying

Piece of the Puzzle Students will be given a pre-cut piece of a large puzzle. They will need to write their name and one of the following:1. Something they liked about the retreat2. Something new that they learned 3. Something they pledge to do as a mentor in the Link

program

Afterwards we will glue the puzzle together and take a picture with it to kick start the year off!

Closing Activity

Have simple questionnaire ready for mentors to gauge their thoughts on the day’s activities to use assessment purposes.

Make sure to set aside last ten minutes for students to fill out and return questionnaire.

Event facilitators should make sure they are present during this time to go around to students and make sure to answer any last minute questions.

Program Assessment / Finishing Up

Materials Needed

Ice Breaking Session 1. Sticky Name Tags 2. Note Cards

Label Activity 1. Label Stickers

Snack 1. Bagels & Cream Cheese2. Juice/Water

Assumptions Discussion 1. Note Cards

Role Play 1. Role play simulation sheet

Closing Activity 1. Pre-cut puzzle pieces2. Poster board for putting

puzzle together 3. Glue 4. Camera(s) for group

picture

Assessment 1. Student Questionnaire

Thank you for viewing my presentation!

Any Questions?