MENTOR Vermont is excited to announce the Annual Vermont Mentoring Symposium will be hybrid this year! We will be offering virtual workshops October 25-26, with the conference culminating in Waterbury, VT on October 27th.
The Vermont Mentoring Symposium is convened annually by MENTOR Vermont, and is the only professional development and networking opportunity of its kind focused on youth mentoring in Vermont. The conference brings together mentoring program staff from across the state, and includes workshops dedicated to current and important topics, and opportunities for the mentoring community to learn from one another.
This year, the theme is Youth Voice, Youth Power, and Youth Advocacy! We are thrilled to have a diverse range of topics, presenters, and youth participants for this year’s symposium!
Tuesday October 25th – Virtual
09:45-10:00: Welcome
All sessions with an asterisk* will be offered twice
Session 1
10:00-10:55 – Future Exploration Guide with Chad Butt*
This workshop will take a deeper dive into the Future Exploration Guide, the new resource available to the greater mentoring field, in collaboration with Careers Click. Participants will be given scenarios that require them to go into the resource itself, and learn to use it through experiential learning and exploration!
10:00-10:55 – Theory of Change with Sarah DeBouter
This workshop will provide an overview of what a Theory of Change is, how it will help organizations structure their short- and long-term goals, and provide strategies to begin the process of developing a Theory of Change for your mentoring program.
Session 2
11:00-11:55 – DEI Platform Reveal with Sarah DeBouter*
Join Sarah and the DEI Committee to learn about the new DEI learning platform available to program staff. This platform, available for free to all program staff, will provide ample learning resources and videos on DEI topics. Local DEI experts have also developed trainings exclusively for this new learning platform to increase the learning and personal/professional development of the Vermont mentoring field.
11:00-11:55 – Vermont Mentoring Grants Update with Chad Butt
An opportunity to connect and discuss the changes to the Vermont Mentoring Grants administration from the State of Vermont.
* The polling session with Liz Ewan will be rescheduled for a later time.
Wednesday, October 26th – Virtual
Session 1
1:00-1:55 – Systems Discussion with Sarah DeBouter
This is an opportunity for program staff to ask questions, troubleshoot issues, provide feedback, and see live demonstrations on use for all Vermont mentoring systems, to include The Vermont Mentoring Hub, the Vermont Mentoring Database, and the Mentoring Connector.
Session 2
2:00-2:55 – Future Exploration Guide with Chad Butt*
This workshop will take a deeper dive into the Future Exploration Guide, the new resource available to the greater mentoring field, in collaboration with Careers Click. Participants will be given scenarios that require them to go into the resource itself, and learn to use it through experiential learning and exploration!
2:00-2:55 – Recruitment Resources and Messaging with Sarah DeBouter
This session will provide access to recruitment resources and standardized messaging for mentoring programs across the state. Participants will discuss out-of-the-box strategies, successes and challenges. Participants will also leave with a toolkit that includes customizable standardized messaging and media resources to use for social media or printable marketing materials.
Session 3
3:00-3:55 – DEI Platform Reveal with Sarah DeBouter*
Join Sarah and the DEI Committee to learn about the new DEI learning platform available to program staff. This platform, available for free to all program staff, will provide ample learning resources and videos on DEI topics. Local DEI experts have also developed trainings exclusively for this new learning platform to increase the learning and personal/professional development of the Vermont mentoring field.
3:00-3:55 – New Coordinator Staff Support with Chad Butt
An opportunity for new program staff to network and learn of MENTOR VT resources.
Thursday, October 27th – Waterbury State Complex
09:00-09:30 – Arrival and networking
09:30-10:15 – Welcome and Keynote – Youth Mental Health and Resilience
Kheya Ganguly
Session 1 – 10:30-12:00
Conference Room A: Facilitated Conversation – Keynote Deep dive
Take a deeper dive with keynote speaker Kheya Ganguly to discuss youth resilience in a ‘post-pandemic’ world, where the new normal conflicts with youth development, Covid-19 fears, and the lingering impact of isolation.
Conference Room B: Youth-Centered Goal Setting
Sarah DeBouter walks participants through youth-centered goal setting with mentoring pairs.
Conference Room C: Youth Involvement in Programs
Chad Butt discusses youth voice and power, and how to increase involvement of youth with programs
Lunch and Networking – 12:00 – 1:00
Plenary – 1:00-2:30
Jonathan Phipps discusses implicit bias
Youth Panel Discussion – 2:45 – 3:45
Vermont mentees come together to discuss their needs, hopes, and dreams within Vermont
Celebration and Recognition – 3:45 – 4:00
Registration for this event has now closed. Please contact MENTOR Vermont at [email protected] with questions.
