Volunteer Coordinator: Deirdre Bagley, dbagley@mentorsinc.org, 202-783-2310 x-114
Description of Volunteer Opportunities/Responsibilities:
A Mentor with the Mentors Inc. program is a caring, responsible, adult volunteer who serves as a trusted friend and guide to a student from one of Washington D.C.'s traditional or charter public high schools. S/he helps to ensure that the student develops important academic and life skills, is exposed to new opportunities and a wide array of resources, makes positive life choices, stays in school, and graduates with a plan for pursuing post-secondary education.
Essential Function/Responsibilities
The Mentor's Responsibility to Protégé
Every volunteer mentor must:
Be able to commit to spending at least one year in a relationship with a student.
Spend (5) five hours to (8) eight face-to-face hours a month engaged in a mutually agreed-upon activity with their protégés.
Communicate with their protégés weekly-by telephone or email-to keep in touch about what is going on in their lives.
Honor, all commitments made to the protégé and Mentors, Inc.
Be respectful of the protégé's time, opinions, and decision-making.
Serve as a positive role model by modeling desirable behaviors-e.g. patience, tolerance, and reflective listening.
Be comfortable and able to establish appropriate boundaries with the protégé and his or her family.
Be encouraging and supportive of the protégé.
Help the protégé develop a milestone plan for completing high school and going on to college or work.
Number of Volunteers: 100-300 annually
Types of Volunteers Needed: Adult-individual; Other
Training Requirements: All of our volunteers take part in a 4 hour training session to go over best practices in mentoring.
Hours Needed: Weekday Evening; Weekend Day; Weekend Evening; After School; Other. Volunteer hours are completely up to the protege and mentors' schedule.
Easily Accessible by Public Transportation: Yes
Volunteer Center Affiliations: Greater DC Cares; ServiceCorps; Other (Provide the name)
Ideas for a Team or Group Activity: website design, pro-bono marketing and PR advice; mentor recruitment and outreach assistance; event sponsorship
Suggestions for a Drive to Benefit this Organization: Financial donations which can be used toward organizational support and programming; Computer (laptop or desk top) drive, donations of ticket or passes to DC area events to be used in youth enrichment activities
None currently.