MentorChat

This year is TMP's 30th Anniversary! And we're ready to celebrate mentoring at our Magic of Mentoring on October 21st. To kick off the celebration, we had the opportunity to speak with Greg Spencer of Spencer MacCleary & Associates and Board Chairman of The POISE Foundation! Mr. Spencer is this year’s Thieman Award Honoree, and TMP will be presenting this award to him at The Magic of Mentoring. Join us to hear about his work and about the powerful impact of meaningful relationships. More about Greg Spencer - https://spencermaccleary.com/leadershipteam/POISE Foundation - https://poisefoundation.org/ Get your tickets for the Magic of Mentoring! - https://mentoringpittsburgh.org/news_posts/magic-of-mentoring-2025The Power of Relationships: How and Why American Adults Step Up to Mentor the Nation’s Youth - https://www.mentoring.org/resource/the-power-of-relationships/

100 Black Men, Inc. began in New York in 1963 and was instituted in Western PA in 1987. The specific focus of the 100 Black Men of Western PA, Inc. is mentoring, and the organization is dedicated to improving the quality of life of the African American community and educational opportunities for at-risk African American youth in the Greater Pittsburgh Area. In this episode, we talk with Al Valentine, President of 100 Black Men of Western PA, about their work. Listen in to hear all about the ways they uplift and support youth and the incredible impact that they’ve had in the community! 100 Black Men Of Western PA - https://pgh100bm.org/ Get your tickets for the Magic of Mentoring! - https://mentoringpittsburgh.org/news_posts/magic-of-mentoring-2025

Many of us have memories of after school club meetings, sports practices, tutoring sessions, and maybe even building robots! This out-of-school-time activities can be a huge part of young people's lives and help them build skills and discover new interests and opportunities. APOST (Allegheny Partners for Out-of-School-Time) is a convener, connector and collaborator with out-of-school time (OST) providers. They strive to strengthen and advocate for high-quality OST experieinces that support youth development. Listen in to this episode as we talk with Karen Dreyer from APOST about the value of OST experiences and their essential role in our schools and community!APOST - https://www.afterschoolpgh.org/The Latest Research on the Impact of Afterschool and Summer Programs (2024) - https://afterschoolalliance.org/documents/The-Latest-Research-on-the-Impact-of-Afterschool-and-Summer-Programs-2024.pdf The Value of Out-of-School Time Programs (2017) - https://wallacefoundation.org/report/value-out-school-time-programs

Through the power of the arts, Dreams of Hope provides the region’s lesbian, gay, sexual, transgender, queer, questioning, intersex, asexual, and allied (LGBTQIA+) youth a welcoming environment to grow in confidence, express themselves, and develop as leaders. And they’ve been doing this work for over 20 years! Join in as we talk with Bekezela Mguni about the importance of mentors who protect, honor, and support young people and the impact of grounding relationships in love and possibility. Dreams of Hope - https://www.dreamsofhope.org/No-Cost Technical Assistance from TMP - https://mentoringpittsburgh.org/news_posts/technical-assistance-from-tmp

Kicking off Season 7, we had the opportunity to talk with Bigs & Littles from Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater PGH! Hear first-hand about the impact of mentoring as they share about their mentoring relationship and the fun and joyful memories that they've had together. We're so excited to share their stories in this episode and to celebrate the power and legacy of mentoring this season. Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater PGH - https://www.bbbspgh.org/

In this conversation, Sophia and Ashley talk with Frank Kamara about how building next works of support for youth is an important part of giving them access to new spaces and exploring new possibilities and opportunities. Paying attention to their feedback and their interests can help caring adults and mentoring programs find ways to build relationships and connect them with others! Chapter 12: Expanding Networks of Support by Sara Schwartz of Suffolk University discusses how, by helping mentees strengthen existing relationships and form new connections, mentors can encourage the exploration of diverse pathways and improve their mentee’s access to new opportunities.MENTOR’s Becoming a Better Mentor GuideThe Consortium for Public Education NEED Impact Community Initiative Youth Places FAME The Mentoring Partnership Sign up for Everyday Mentoring Tips!

Sports can be a big part of a young person’s life, and few know this better than Coach Bob Jones who has been coaching youth football for more than 30 years! Caring adults – including coaches – can use sports to connect with young people in many ways and can provide valuable opportunities to talk with youth about behavior change. Join us for this chat with Coach Bob Jones about how he intentionally builds relationships with young people through sports and navigates conversations about positive behavioral changes! Chapter 11: Effective Conversations about Behavior Change by Samuel D. McQuillan of the University of South Carolina discusses how some of the most effective ways to encourage positive behavioral changes in a mentee are to ask questions, engage in active listening, and express empathy and understanding.

Goal setting can be challenging at any age. In this episode, we talk with Dr. Deanna Sinex about how Youth Enrichment Services (YES) and other supporting partners work with the City of Pittsburgh to implement the Youth Civic Leadership Academy (YCLA) and help youth explore career fields, learn valuable skills, and gain access to unique opportunities. Their holistic approach to mentoring is clear in how they support youth in setting goals that are relevant to their own definitions of success and carefully consider the young person’s values, interests, and experiences. Listen in on the conversation to hear all about it! Chapter 10: Goal Setting and Support by Ed Bowers of Clemson University discusses how intentionally supporting a mentee through the process of setting and pursuing goals is one important way a mentee can guide them towards discovering new passions and a strong sense of purpose.MENTOR’s Becoming a Better Mentor GuideCity of Pittsburgh Youth Civic Leadership AcademyYouth Enrichment ServicesCommunity College of Allegheny Countyhttps://www.partner4work.org/Heinz History Center

Crossroads Foundation approach to supporting their young scholars ensures that each young person has access to a diverse network of adults and peers. Join us for a conversation with Lead Counselor Justin Pacini about how their program centers relationship building and expanding the social capital of young people to help them access educational opportunities and achieve their potential!Chapter 12: Expanding Networks of Support by Sara Schwartz of Suffolk University discusses how, by helping mentees strengthen existing relationships and form new connections, mentors can encourage the exploration of diverse pathways and improve their mentee’s access to new opportunities. MENTOR’s Becoming a Better Mentor GuideCrossroads Foundation

A mentoring relationship doesn’t usually happen in isolation – there are lots of important people in the lives of young people! Connecting Champions knows this and is always intentional about working with others close to their mentees to help ensure the positive outcomes. Join us for this discussion with Coy Thompson about how Connecting Champions collaborates with mentors, guardians, doctors, social workers, and others to support young people with cancer in learning about their passion, explore professions, and navigating the cancer journey.Chapter 7: Working with Others in the Mentoring Relationship System by Thomas E. Keller of Portland State University discusses how making an effort to get to know the other adults in a mentee’s life can improve a mentor’s understanding of and ability to communicate with their mentee.

What does it mean to honor youth voice? How do we share power with young people and allow them agency in mentoring relationships? In this episode, we talk with Adelaide Moschler and start at the very beginning with what youth voice is and what it means. Listening to young people can help you build stronger relationships with the young people you know and creates connections based on mutual trust and respect. Listen in to learn valuable strategies to help you honor the voices of the young people in your life! Chapter 8: Honoring Youth Voice & Building Power by Elizabeth Santiago & Minnie Chen of MENTOR discusses how, in order to elevate youth voice, adults must learn to listen critically and step back to share power with young people.Additional Resources: MENTOR’s Becoming a Better Mentor GuideMENTOR Independence Region

When you’re working with a group of young people, how do you make sure that everyone feels seen and heard? Mentoring isn’t always one-to-one with a young person and how you approach connection and relationship building can look differently in a group. In this episode, we talk with Kristy DeCola about how to facilitate mentoring relationships with groups of young people. Chapter 6: Facilitating Group Interactions by Gabriel Kuperminc of Georgia State University discusses how to build a strong sense of belonging and create community when mentoring within groups of young people. Additional Resources: MENTOR’s Becoming a Better Mentor GuideKEYS Service Corps

Hello Neighbor in Pittsburgh works hard to foster a welcoming and supportive community to our newest neighbors. In this discussion with Jenni Walkup Jayes, we discuss the important role that cultural humility plays in making this happen. It’s not always easy! But making an effort to self-reflect as well as learn about the young people in your life is essential in building a trusting relationship where youth feel seen, heard, and safe.Chapter 2: Practicing Cultural Humility by Bernadette Sanchez of the University of Illinois-Chicago discusses how it is essential to engage in continuous self-reflection as a mentor and the importance of making opportunities to learn about your mentee’s identity and cultural experiences. Additional Resources: MENTOR’s Becoming a Better Mentor GuideHello Neighbor

What’s more fun than talking about…well…fun! At the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh, staff know how important fun and play is when creating welcoming spaces and building relationships with young people. In this episode, we talk with Kelly Rottmund about all the work and intention that’s happening behind the scenes to make sure that the library is a place where young people feel valued and have a good time! Chapter 3: Making Room for Fun & Play by Michael Karcher of the University of Texas-San Antonio discusses how, by centering joyful experiences, mentors can develop stronger and more meaningful connections with mentees. Additional Resources: MENTOR’s Becoming a Better Mentor GuideCarnegie Library of Pittsburgh

What can I do to be a better mentor? In Season 5, Ashley & Sophia invite guests from local organizations and affiliate partners to discuss MENTOR’s Becoming a Better Mentor Guide: Strategies to Be There for Young People. This guide is a free resource written by experts, and it benefits any adult looking to support young people and is full of real-world advice and tangible, evidence-based strategies. If you’re looking to be a better mentor and strengthen your relationships with the young people in your life, look no further! Season 5 is just for you!Additional Resources: MENTOR’s Becoming a Better Mentor GuideSearch Institute’s Developmental Relationships Framework

Episode 1 - Why Mentoring? Obviously given the title of our podcast -- Mentor Chat -- you know we're talking all things mentoring.  But in this first episode, we're going to lay the groundwork for all our discussions moving forward.  Why mentoring?  We're going to help you explore how mentoring may have impacted your life.  Who helped you get to where you are today?  Who are those people who have always been there for you?  Now more than ever, caring connections and strong relationships are important and we're going to talk about how mentoring plays an important role in our lives.  Whether it's a formal program or informal Everyday Mentoring, everyone can benefit from mentoring.  Let's get this conversation started! Additional Resources: MentoringPittsburgh.org -- Trainings, Online Resource Library  Everyday Mentoring Weekly Tips - Sign up here! Mentoring Connector -- Search volunteer opportunities near you!  Stay inspired: Link to "If You Mentor Me" clip 

If you listened to our first episode this season, you know that the second leading cause of death in people ages 10-34 is suicide. In this episode, our guest Laurie Barnett Levine, Licensed Social Worker and Chief Executive Officer at Mental Health America of Southwestern PA, talks about the climbing rates of suicide as a result of the COVID pandemic and how Mental Health America of SWPA is responding to this crisis. Laurie also discusses the long term impacts the pandemic will have on access of mental health services and the workforce. When you’re done listening, make sure to visit mhaswpa.org to learn more about the programs and services Mental Health America of SWPA has to offer including, QPR (Question, Persuade, Refer) Suicide Awareness Training.If you or a loved one has thoughts of suicide, we encourage you to reach out for support by calling or texting the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline 988. Additional Resources:988 Suicide & Crisis LifelineThe Lifeline provides 24/7, free and confidential support for people in distress, prevention and crisis resources for you or your loved ones, and best practices for professionals in the United States. Callers are routed to the nearest accredited crisis center based on their location.Crisis Resolve Everyone experiences moments of crisis in life. You might be struggling with depression or substance abuse. Or maybe you’re overwhelmed by problems at work, feeling lonely, or having a conflict with a loved one. Whether your problem is large or small, talking with someone can help. Most of all, don’t wait for a problem to get out of control. Just call resolve Crisis Services for help at 1-888-796-8226.Trevor Project866-488-7386
National organization providing crisis intervention and suicide prevention services to lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and questioning (LGBTQ) young people ages 13-24.Text HOME to 741741 from anywhere in the United States, anytime. Crisis Text Line is here for any crisis. A live, trained Crisis Counselor receives the text and responds, all from our secure online platform. The volunteer Crisis Counselor will help you move from a hot moment to a cool momentUpStreet PittsburghUpStreet is a free teen mental wellness program that offers drop-in consultations with therapists, scheduled therapy appointments, text-based peer support, and support groups for teens.

Dr. Elizabeth Joy, CEO & Founder of JoySociety, chats with us about her research and theory…Success as a Protector Factor. You might be surprised at what Dr. Elizabeth Joy uncovered in her research! In this episode, Dr. Elizabeth Joy talks about redefining and reimagining success as something more holistic to help mentors and caring adults, be intentional in supporting young people beyond career and financial “success”. We hope you enjoy this chat as much as we did!Additional Resources:JoySociety.com

This is a special episode of Mentor Chat where we are talking with young people directly. As caring adults, sometimes we think we know what’s best for young people, but without including them in the conversation and recognizing them as experts of their lives, do we really have their best interest at heart? In this episode, three young people share their thoughts and feelings about the topic of youth mental health, specifically how adults can offer support through listening and elevating their voice. We are also joined by Sarah Pesi and Deborah Murdock from the Jewish Healthcare Foundation who created a forum for teens to advocate for addressing mental health as a part of health.Additional Resources:PA Youth Advocacy NetworkSign up for TMP’s Everyday Mentoring Tips!

Our guests, Nicole Homerin and Kristin Humphrey, from Partners for Youth with Disabilities share the importance of accessibility (specifically disability accessibility) when it comes to supporting youth mental health and wellbeing. This episode is loaded with information and resources on how mentors and other caring adults can best support young people with disabilities. You will learn about the intersection of trauma and disability, universal design and the recognition of long COVID as a disability. Have your pen and note pad ready!Additional Resources:Partners for Youth with DisabilitiesMENTOR’s Resources for Mentors around Race, Inclusion, and Cultural RespectMentor’s Celebrating Disability InclusionNational Disability Mentoring Coalition Disability Mentoring CertificationCPI Trauma HandoutAbleism and Racism: Roots of the Same Tree Podcast with Ibram X. Kendi and Rebecca CoakleyYouth Mental Health Resource Guide