What is a Creative Mentor?
A Creative Mentor is an adult who wants to make a difference in the life of a child.
Webster's dictionary defines "mentor" as "a trusted friend or advisor". Studies have shown that a mentor relationship can be one of the most important relationships in a child's development. It doesn't take any special skills or degrees to be a mentor. It takes a caring adult who is committed to helping a child become all he or she can be. It involves listening, sharing, and showing the child that there is one person who takes the time out of their busy lives to be there for him or her. The greatest gift a mentor can give is his or her time.
Creative Mentors volunteer one hour per week in a school or other community/faith-based organization or after school program with a student who has been identified by a counselor or a teacher as needing some additional one-on-one attention by a caring adult.
Creative Mentors volunteer in schools or other sites during school hours or in after school programs close to where they live or work in New Castle, Kent, and Sussex Counties. We are continuously partnering with new schools. Click here to see a list of our current school partners. Creative Mentors serve over 1,300 children in grades K through 8.
Creative Mentors make an initial commitment to mentoring for one school year. Research shows that a mentoring relationship lasting less than six months actually does more harm than good to a child who is looking for stability and consistency. It's not uncommon for Creative Mentors to follow their mentee from early elementary school through high school graduation and beyond. Click here to read about some of our exemplary, long-time mentors.
Creative Mentors are adults and high school students. In the past we only trained adults, but our new High School Mentoring Initiative is now available to students. Contact us at 877-202-9050 ext. 16 or imcteer@connecting-generations.org for more information.
Creative Mentors typically work one-on-one with one to five children.
Currently, Creative Mentors are 68% female and 32% male, although this is always changing.
Creative Mentors volunteer over 30,000 hours per year in Delaware public schools.
All Creative Mentors are required to complete an application process, which includes reference checks, a criminal background check and completion of our mentor training. It takes approximately a month for an application to be completed before a mentor is placed with a child.
The Creative Mentoring training covers appropriate roles of a mentor, how to listen and connect with a child as well as how to handle difficult situations. Upon completion of the training workshop, mentors tell us that they feel completely prepared for their first mentoring day and all of the ups and downs that occur through the course of a mentoring relationship. We also provide a complimentary copy of our award-winning training manual.
Creative Mentoring Works. Become a Creative Mentor.
In Their Own Words:
Read some of the personal experiences of our Mentors and Mentees: Shared Stories
Mentors and Mentees interviewed each other on NPR's StoryCorps:
Creative Mentor Carole Sangis and mentee Seth (audio file, takes a couple of minutes to load)
Creative Mentor Stephen Ludwig and mentee Jacob (audio file, takes a couple of minutes to load)
