January 6th
I am a Mentor Day
National Mentoring Month
January is National Mentoring Month! Please join us in celebrating and helping us raise awareness of the need for more mentoring relationships in Vermont.
Ambassadors of Mentoring
We’re excited to share that MENTOR Vermont is expanding opportunities for young people to lift up the importance of mentoring statewide. This year, we’re launching two Ambassador pathway options designed to meet different schedules, interests, and levels of commitment—while ensuring every young person has a way to make their voice heard.
Ambassador of Mentoring Leadership Pathway – APPLICATIONS DUE 12/29
Our flagship year-long pathway is geared toward youth who want to take on a deeper leadership role. Fellows engage directly with policymakers, participate in statewide events, and complete 2–3 mentoring awareness activities.
Micro-Ambassador Certificate Program (Rolling Admission)
This new short-term, project-based option is perfect for semester-based, peer-based, and school-based mentoring relationships. Participants complete one project to promote mentoring in their community and receive both a Certificate of Completion and a Volunteer Hours Certificate.
Applications are accepted on a rolling basis, making it easy for youth to join when it fits their schedule.
These pathways offer accessible, meaningful ways for young people to use their voice, develop leadership skills, and strengthen the mentoring movement in Vermont. Encourage the youth you work with to explore the option that best fits their goals and availability!
During National Mentoring Month, MENTOR Vermont proudly celebrates our Ambassadors of Mentoring—youth and adult participants who exemplify the impact of mentoring in their communities. Each year, we honor these outstanding individuals at a recognition ceremony in Montpelier and provide them with meaningful opportunities for youth-led advocacy. Ambassadors engage directly with local legislators at the State House, participate in a House Resolution recognizing mentoring, and witness the official signing of the National Mentoring Month Proclamation, helping to amplify the voices of young people and raise awareness about the importance of mentoring across Vermont.
Learn MoreMentoring Month Coffee Hours
Connect. Learn. Strengthen Mentoring in Vermont.
Join MENTOR Vermont throughout National Mentoring Month for a series of informal coffee hours designed to bring mentoring professionals together to learn, share, and build stronger programs across the state and beyond.
January 7th at 10:00 am – Earned Media for Mentoring Programs: Getting Your Story Out There
Mentoring programs have powerful stories—but they don’t always get told. This coffee hour will focus on earned media strategies to help programs increase visibility, build credibility, and raise awareness without a big marketing budget. We’ll cover how to pitch local media, identify compelling stories, and leverage National Mentoring Month as a timely hook. Participants will also have space to share what’s worked (and what hasn’t) in their communities.
Best for: Staff involved in communications, outreach, recruitment, and community engagement.
January 14th at 11:00 am – Elements of Effective Practice for Mentoring™: Coffee & Conversation
Join MENTOR Vermont, MENTOR New York, and the Mentoring Partnership of Southwest PA for a multi-state conversation focused on the 5th Edition of the Elements of Effective Practice for Mentoring™. Whether you’re new to the Elements or have been using them for years, this coffee hour will deepen understanding, spark reflection, and create space to learn from programs across the country.
Best for: New and experienced programs looking to strengthen quality and align with best practices.
January 22nd at 10:00 am – Partnership Review – Understanding the MENTOR Vermont Partnership Model
Curious about the new MENTOR Vermont Partnership model? Join us for an overview of the tiers, benefits, and expectations—and how the model supports quality, sustainability, and connection across Vermont’s mentoring landscape. This session will also include space for questions and conversation with peers.
Best for: Program leaders, coordinators, and staff interested in deepening engagement with MENTOR Vermont.
January 29th at 10:00 am – Mentoring Awareness in Vermont: Building Connection & Engagement
Join us to meet MENTOR Vermont’s newest staff member and learn how we’re strengthening mentoring awareness across the state. This coffee hour will highlight Mentoring Mindset trainings and how programs can build more intentional, meaningful relationships with community partners to expand reach, deepen impact, and strengthen local mentoring ecosystems. We’ll create space for connection, shared learning, and conversation about what effective community engagement looks like in practice.
Best for: Program staff focused on training, outreach, partnership-building, and community engagement.
To join these coffee hours, please email Sarah at [email protected]
January 6th
I am a Mentor Day
A day for volunteer mentors to celebrate their role and reflect on the ways mentees have enhanced their world. Mentors are encouraged to create their own content on social media or share your story here.
January 17th
International Mentoring Day
Supportive relationships are critical for the growth and development of all young people. For years, our movement has been dedicated to shaping futures & nurturing positive change across the globe. This International Mentoring Day, let’s take a moment to reflect on the incredible journeys we’ve shared and the connections we’ve built. Supporters are encouraged to create their own content on social media or share your story here.
January 19th
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service
A day to share in the inspirational words of Dr. MLK, Jr. and elevate the spirit of service through volunteerism. Mentoring Amplifies opportunities & we strive for equity in our pursuit to close the mentoring gap. Supporters are encouraged to share their own content on social media or share your story here.
January 27th
Thank your Mentee Day
Mentors and mentees create lasting impacts on each other as they navigate their own journeys together, as a team. Today, we encourage you to Thank Your Mentee and reflect on how they’ve inspired you. Share your story about the connections you’ve made and the insights you’ve gained.
January 28th
Thank your Mentor Day
A day for mentees of all kinds, whether in structured mentoring program or not, to celebrate and reflect on the ways mentors have impacted their lives. Mentees are encouraged to create their own content on social media or share your story here.
Each January, we come together as a community to ignite those passions and help turn those wildest dreams into reality with National Mentoring Month. By harnessing our collective voice, MENTOR advocates for mentorship, legislative priorities, and raises awareness for how one conversation, one experience, and one mentor can change a young person’s life.
Join us for exciting opportunities all month long to grow the movement and celebrate the power of supportive and meaningful mentor relationships! Learn how you can participate by exploring MENTOR’s resources below and engage on social media using the hashtags #MentoringMonth and #ThankYourMentor through January.
