High school students have different mentoring needs. Mentor2.0 meets those needs while making it easy for the busy professional to mentor. Mentor2.0 matches high school students with college-educated mentors and provides them with the support and guidance they need to graduate high school and succeed in college and the workforce. Mentor/mentee matches get to know each other through an innovative combination of weekly messages (via a secure web-based platform) and monthly group events held at the high school hosted and organized by mentor2.0 staff. Mentor2.0 is currently only available in Albuquerque.
What do mentors do?
- Send one weekly message on an interesting topic that mentor2.0 provides.
- See your mentee once every 4-6 weeks for two hours at a facilitated evening event at your mentee’s school.
Mentor requirements:
- All mentors must be at least 21 years of age and hold a college degree (2+ year degree) or significant life experience.
- Commit to mentoring for at least one year. We hope that you will continue with your mentee until they graduate from high school but understand if you cannot.
- Commit to sending one weekly message on an interesting topic that mentor2.0 provides through the mentor2.0 platform.
- Commit to seeing your mentee once every 4-6 weeks for 2 hours at a mentor2.0 facilitated after-school event at their school from 5:30 pm-7:30 pm.
- Agree to only communicate and meet within the above framework (for curriculum focus and program fidelity). After junior year and a strong relationship foundation has been established, opportunities for outside communication and meetings on your own may be a possibility.
The mentor2.0 Curriculum:
Mentor2.0 students attend a weekly class session to work through a research-based curriculum as well as spend time messaging their mentor. The curriculum creates a baseline of conversations and activities for all matches. It covers non-cognitive skills necessary for college success such as perseverance, critical thinking, help seeking and self-advocacy, and optimism/excitement about the future. It will also cover college knowledge such as college selection, applications, and financial aid.
The curriculum is designed to transform volunteers into effective advocates for their mentees by providing what to say and when to say it, reducing the variability among mentors. The curriculum also provides mentors with tools and resources to effectively support students as they work together on each of the competencies mentor2.0 has identified.
School Partnerships:
Mentor2.0 currently partners with Amy Biehl High School, and South Valley Academy. We accept applications year-round for volunteers in both locations.
Volunteer Today:
- Interested in volunteering? Click here to fill out the volunteer interest form.
- After submitting the volunteer interest form, a Big Brothers Big Sisters Customer Relations Specialist will reach out to you with more information, and to help you choose the program that fits you best.
- Big Brothers Big Sisters will complete a background check and interview with each volunteer mentor.
- Be ready to message and meet your mentee at the start of the school year.
Questions about the mentor2.0 program at either South Valley Academy or Amy Biehl High School? Contact Jessica Sosa at [email protected] or 505.319.6757.