First-generation students do not always arrive at college or university with the same knowledge and preparation as other students. While this does not always limit them, it shows a need for mentoring. Mentors can provide this essential bridge in knowledge, experience, and support for first-generation students at college. We want to support them from elementary through to their college degrees! Continue reading
I’m motivated to continue my work in mentoring, because I’m a successful byproduct of strong Chicago-based youth mentoring and job readiness initiatives. So, I know personally that mentoring works, which is why am excited every time a new company jumps on board to providing career-related mentoring to our girls. Join me and the Trust on May 12th to commit to making our region better. Continue reading
Last week we shared with you Cynthia Boykin of What U Need Is… Today we want everyone to know about Cameka Smith of BOSS Network. Cameka Smith is the founder of BOSS Network, “Bringing Out Successful Sisters”. With a Master’s in Education, … Continue reading
Happy Holidays from Polished Pebbles and Kelly Fair! Continue reading
A look back at Polished Pebbles’ highlights from 2014. Check out our flipagram! Continue reading
To each girl that goes through Polished Pebbles program, the experience is different. Although we have our mission of installing positive values, effective communication strategies, and confidence in our girls, they all take a different path. Each girl comes through our program with their own unique background and personality; making sure our work is never dull! Now, let’s hear from a Polished Pebbles alum, Pertesha, as she shares her own Polished Pebbles story… Continue reading
The video racked up 32 million views, but came under quick scrutiny for featuring mostly men of color. This too was my initial observation and objection to the video as well. My thought was how can you raise awareness about a form of discrimination with a tool that discriminates? Consequently, Hollaback! apologized last week for the suspicious lack of white men shown in the video. Nonetheless, as most social media centered advocacy, the message about combat catcalling definitely started a buzz and lots of dialogue. Continue reading
Please share in our memories collected throughout the years by watching this short video:
On Monday, May 12 The Chicago Community Trust hosted a series of dinners throughout the Chicago region where almost 10,000 people met new people and shared ideas for making the Chicago region a better place for everyone to live, work and raise kids.
Next Monday, May 19, I’ll be hosting a workshop at the Tutor/Mentor Leadership and Networking Conference (http://www.tutormentorconference.org). This event is part of an on-going strategy of the Tutor/Mentor Connection (T/MC), launched by Dan Bassill in 1993. Bassill started leading a volunteer-based tutor/mentor program in 1975. He started reaching out to peers to gather them for networking events, similar to the OnTheTable2014 events, in 1976.
Dan created the T/MC in 1993 to try to bring people together to network, learn, build trust, share ideas, and to create advertising-type visibility that would draw support to all city and Chicago suburbs. He created the Tutor/Mentor Institute, LLC in 2011 help the T/MC grow in Chicago and to support the growth of similar intermediaries in other cities.
Over the past few years the idea of “collective effort” or people from many sectors working together to solve a community problem, has gained much visibility in non profit and public circles, fueled by articles on the Stanford Social Innovation Review web site. http://www.ssireview.org/articles/entry/collective_impact. This article constantly refers the need bringing people together to solve community problems, and that’s what Dan Bassill has been doing for over 20 years. In addition to organizing conferences, Dan maintains a web library with links to articles like this and his goal is that people from many sectors dig deeper into this information on an on-going basis so that ideas from many places can be used to support the growth of mentor-rich programs in Chicago area neighborhoods.
As a result of his professional mentoring, Dan has always encouraged me to attend and present in his Tutor/Mentor Leadership & Networking Conference to grow my career and skill sets. In the upcoming conference on May 19th, I will share my experience in developing and implementing my own blog, http://www.kellyfairthementor.com. I’ll discuss how my blog has helped me to expand my reach and resources for growing my mentoring program, Polished Pebbles (www.polishedpebbles.com), and how I’ve been able to use it as a tool to support the entire mentoring community!
If you’re concerned with the well-being of youth, the future of the workforce, and the social capital in the Chicago region, I encourage you to register and attend the Tutor/Mentor Conference next Monday. Dan and I and others look forward to meeting you. Register here: http://www.tutormentorconference.org/
Polished Pebbles’ staff have joined together to share with you their experiences in working for Polished Pebbles Girls Mentoring Program.
Kelly Fair The Mentor 