MENTOR Helps Young People Find Quality Adult Mentors Nationwide

MENTOR is a national organization that helps connect young people with adult mentors who can guide and support them. They work to make sure mentoring programs are high-quality and effective, not just random pairings that might not help or could even cause harm. MENTOR has created research-based guidelines called Elements of Effective Practice that help mentoring programs work better. They provide training and support to organizations running mentoring programs, with 94% of programs reporting satisfaction with their help. MENTOR also trains adults in workplaces, schools, and community groups to become better mentors through their Connect | Focus | Grow training program. This training helps 93% of adults understand their role as mentors and helps young people learn how to get the most from mentoring relationships. Through their Mentoring Connector database, MENTOR has connected over 79,000 people to local mentoring opportunities in the past three years. Their work focuses on creating lasting, meaningful relationships between adults and youth that help young people succeed in school, work, and life. The organization believes that good mentoring requires skill and preparation, not just good intentions.

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VoiceLeadership Houston: Training Leaders to Make Houston BetterLeadership Houston is a special program that has been training community leaders since 1982. It brings together professionals from all kinds of jobs and backgrounds to learn about Houston's biggest challenges and how to solve them. The program lasts 10 months and covers important topics like healthcare, education, energy, fairness, and public safety. Participants meet with city decision-makers and build friendships across different industries and viewpoints. The goal is to create leaders who know more about their city and want to take action to help. Over 2,000 people have graduated from this program and continue working together on projects that make Houston stronger, more welcoming, and better prepared for challenges. Leadership Houston also offers community projects where groups work on real problems, leadership events that bring people together to discuss urgent issues, and ways for graduates to stay connected. The program focuses on bringing different people together, understanding how systems work, telling powerful stories, building community, and having respectful conversations even when people disagree. This helps create the kind of informed, connected leadership that can make real change happen in Houston.

The Bigger WeStories of Community Builders Who Weave Neighbors TogetherThis article shares inspiring stories of three community builders from Phoenixville, PA who found ways to connect neighbors and strengthen their town. Maddie Goodwin started PXV Gives after the Women's March to help people find volunteer opportunities with local nonprofits. Julie Miller, an English teacher for immigrants, created a Spanish library and builds bridges between immigrant families and the community. Teresa Haag paints murals that bring beauty to the town and create spaces for neighbors to share stories. These 'weavers' show how regular people can make their communities stronger by building relationships and helping others get involved. Their work demonstrates that lasting change happens when neighbors know and care for each other. The stories are part of a series celebrating everyday people who create positive change in their communities through small but meaningful actions.

The Bigger WeAuthor Sue Monk Kidd on Finding Support to Live Your True SelfFamous author Sue Monk Kidd talks about how we need both personal strength and support from others to live our fullest lives. She wrote bestselling books like 'The Secret Life of Bees' and shares how her own journey from traditional Southern Baptist wife to successful author required both inner work and help from friends. In her latest book 'The Book of Longings,' she tells the story of Ana, who she imagines as Jesus's wife, and how Ana needs her Aunt Yaltha's support to find courage. Kidd believes we can't transform ourselves alone - we need what she calls 'Aunt Yalthas' in our lives, people who believe in us and bless our potential. She says American culture teaches us to be independent, but real growth happens in relationships. During tough times like COVID-19 and racism, we need each other even more. The key is finding people who support your dreams while also being willing to support others. This balance of personal growth and community support helps us become who we're meant to be.

The Bigger WeHow to Listen Better: FAQ GuideThis FAQ guide teaches people how to become better listeners in all areas of life. It explains that listening is the art of helping others think and feel out loud. Good listening helps you connect with people, learn from them, and avoid arguments. The guide covers common questions like what makes someone a good listener, how to show empathy, and why giving advice isn't always helpful. It explains that listening requires paying attention, understanding others, asking questions, and showing care. The guide says anyone can learn to listen better with practice and training. It includes tips for businesses, relationships, and personal growth. The author learned these skills while volunteering at a crisis center and now teaches listening through books and online courses. The guide emphasizes that good listening starts with caring about others and putting their needs first.

FamiliesEducation Tech Company Allelo Makes Top 200 in Big ContestAllelo, an education technology company from Pittsburgh, was chosen as one of 200 finalists in a major startup contest called the GSV Cup. This contest is the world's biggest competition for education technology companies, with over $1 million in prizes. Allelo beat out more than 750 other companies from around the world to make it to this level. The company creates tools that help students have better online discussions and conversations in their classes. Teachers can use Allelo's artificial intelligence features to see how well students participate and stay on topic during online discussions. The company was started by engineering students from Carnegie Mellon University. Now they will compete at a big education conference in San Diego for the chance to win cash prizes and investment money. The contest shows how technology is changing education, especially after the pandemic made online learning more important. More than half of the winning companies have female founders, and many are led by people of color, showing growing diversity in the tech industry.