Youth Mentor Training Recap
Two weeks ago our staff and Youth Mentors gathered for four days of Youth Mentor training, ushering in a new year of YLI programming and leadership development. These days offered an opportunity for the Youth Mentors to reunite, spend some time with one another, and prepare for their new (for some of them) role within YLI. It was also an opportunity for them to meet YLI’s two new staff: Haley, our new program manager, and Adele, an AmeriCorps Groundwork Fellow who will spend the duration of her fellowship assisting with YLI’s programming. Ntxheb helmed the ship during the week, guiding much of our training with the assistance of Haley and Adele.
Day 1: Preparing the Soil
After designing our zines, we discussed them as a group!
Our first day of training centered around “preparing the soil,” which involved laying the groundwork necessary for the Youth Mentors to approach their role(s) with clear expectations, as well as an understanding of what they each bring to the table. We first laid out our community agreements, which guided the ways in which we engaged with one another and the training materials in the days to come. We then colorful created zines exhibiting our top five character strengths, chosen from the VIA Institute’s list of twenty-four; this was a wonderful opportunity for Youth Mentors to identify and articulate the aspects of themselves they felt most confident in, as well as the ways in which these skills can be used in their mentorship.
After lunch, we hosted Paul, Lori, and Sareena as part of a panel, during which they each got the chance to speak about their experiences as Youth Mentors, and impart some of their wisdom upon both new and returning Mentors. We rounded out the day by delving into the subjects of belonging/othering, inclusion/exclusion, discussing the ways in which we will exercise positive and effective mentorship in order to make all participants feel welcome and heard.
Paul, Lori, and Sareena were great resources for our Youth Mentors to learn from.
Days 2 & 3: Gathering Our Tools
Haley lead our exercise regarding intercultural conflict management!
During the next two days, we focused on gathering our “tools” for mentorship: this involved exploring topics like intercultural conflict management, experiential learning, and the challenges (and rewards!) of co-facilitation. Our discussion of intercultural conflict management involved an engaging activity, led by Haley, in which the Youth Mentors placed themselves at points on a grid which corresponded to their natural styles of conflict management. This exercise offered an opportunity not only for the Mentors to gain a better understanding of how they approach conflict, but also for those with different conflict styles to speak to one another about how they might approach one another in ways conducive to successful conflict management.
We also spent lots of time discussing the experiential learning cycle, a concept which is integral to YLI’s programming. This cycle recognizes that learning is often best done by doing something, and then spending several stages reflecting on one’s experiences. These stages of reflection can be most powerful when we ask powerful questions about our experiences, and use the art of paraphrasing when discussing our experiences with others.
Lastly, we spent time practicing skills that will be at the heart of our leadership retreat(s): co-facilitation and lesson planning! Both these activities offer opportunities for Youth Mentors to work with one another to find the most effective ways of engaging YLI participants in hands-on activities, as well as fostering reflection on experiential learning.
Day 4: Planting The Seeds
Our last day of training centered around “planting the seeds,” which involved discussing recruitment for the upcoming year of programming, as well as the flow of the first leadership retreat, the latter of which we are all especially excited about! For our final exercise of the day, we drew from a pack of “Soul Cards,” each of which features an abstract, thought-provoking piece of artwork. Each Youth Mentor and staff person drew their own card, and we had dynamic group discussions about how these cards spoke to our hopes, anxieties, and dreams about this upcoming year. Our interpretations informed us on how we might approach new participants, one another, our communities, and ourselves in mindful ways: branching out, reinvigorating our creative energies, taking moments for self-reflection, reaching out to others in moments of need, learning how to manage priorities, and how to be nurturing of incoming participants’ potential for leadership were some of the many messages we were able to derive from these cards and our discussions with one another.
Soul Cards picked by the Youth Mentors and staff!
We are excited to learn the ways in which we can apply our Soul Card- and training-inspired insights to our upcoming engagements with Twin Cities youth! As always, we are hoping to recruit a diverse cohort of high school students, and are excited to hear their perspectives on leadership and the communities they come from. As participants in YLI they will get the opportunity to work with their peers, address issues in their communities, and, of course, have some fun along the way!
