1Mentoring Partnership of Mentoring Partnership of MinnesotaMinnesota

Quality in ActionQuality in Action

December 1, 2010December 1, 2010

Building Deep and Sustained Relationships with Young People

2222

Webinar LogisticsWebinar Logistics

Asking Questions & Sharing Comments During the Webinar1. “Raise your hand” & MPM Organizers

will unmute you

2. Or, type questions (and comments) in the question/answer section and submit; we will respond directly to you or possibly share your question with all attendees

When unmuted, please monitor your background noise

April Riordan, Director of Training and Community Partnerships

3

Nancy Tellett-RoyceNancy Tellett-Royce

Senior Consultant, Search Institute

4

External AssetsExternal Assets

Support

Empowerment

Boundariesand

Expectations

ConstructiveUse of Time

5

Internal AssetsInternal Assets

Commitmentto Learning

Positive Values

Social Competencies

Positive Identity

6

What is a Spark?What is a Spark? A special quality, skill, or interest that lights

us up and that we are passionate about. Something that comes from inside of us,

and when we express it, it gives us joy and energy.

It’s our very essence, the thing about us that is “good and beautiful, and useful to the world.”

7

Nature, ecology, the environment Leading

Animal Welfare Athletics

Helping, serving, volunteering Reading

Spirituality or Religion Creative Arts

Committed to living in a specific way

(with joy, passion, caring, etc.)

Learning a subject matter like Science or History

8

Search Institute’s ResearchSearch Institute’s Research

Gallup Poll of 2,000 12 to 17-year-olds and 2,000 of their parents

Online Poll conducted by Louis Harris polling firm with 1,000 11 to 17-year-olds

Interviews with 405 teens, ages 15-17

Continued assessment in individual communities

9

Three Types of SparksThree Types of Sparks

Teens generally named three types of sparks:

Something they are good at – a talent or skill

Something they care deeply about – such as the environment or serving their community

A quality they know is special – caring for others or being a friend

10

Results from Sparks ResearchResults from Sparks Research

When youth know their spark and have several adults who support their spark, they are more likely to:

Have a sense of purpose Be socially competent and physically

healthy Volunteer to help others Have higher grades in school and better

attendance

11

Results from Sparks ResearchResults from Sparks Research

Young people who know their spark and have several adults who support their spark are

less likely to: Experience depression Engage in acts of violence toward others

12

Sparks Most CitedSparks Most Cited Athletics Creative arts Nature, ecology, the environment Learning a subject matter like science or history Helping, serving, volunteering Leading Spirituality or religion Reading Committed to living in a specific way (with joy,

passion, caring, etc.) Animal welfare

13

How many teenagers have sparks?How many teenagers have sparks?

Say They Do NOT Have a Spark

Say They HAVE a Spark

31%

69%

14

The Challenge for Caring AdultsThe Challenge for Caring Adults

37%

62%

100%

Percentage w ith spark

and spark champions

Percentage who can

clearly name their spark

Percentage of teenagers

who understand and seek

spark

15

The Critical Role of MentorsThe Critical Role of Mentors

Only 37 % can identify adults who know and support their spark. Mentors can play an important role in increasing this.

All young people should have an adult who:

1. sees their spark

2. affirms that spark

3. helps them explore their spark

16

Maximize Your Impact – Maximize Your Impact – MPM Mentor TrainingMPM Mentor Training

Build longer, stronger relationships • Focus on what is strong not what is wrong• Pay attention to what mentees would like for

themselves – not just what we think they need

• Teach and model skills to help young people carry their baggage better

17

Sparks in ActionSparks in Action

My mentee’s goal is to become a famous singer… however, she can’t carry a tune at all!

18

Talking with a Child About SparksTalking with a Child About Sparks Watch for signs of sparks -

“You really seem to enjoy…”

Share your own sparks -

“When I was your age, I was passionate about…”

Ask open-ended questions, and then listen –

“What do you think your spark is?”

19

Spark Champions Can …Spark Champions Can …

Affirm the spark Encourage its expression Model the spark Provide opportunities to express it Run interference and help eliminate obstacles Teach or mentor Show up (at recitals, games, performances, play, reading, contests)

20

Sparks in ActionSparks in Action

I’m having a hard time connecting with my mentee. We don’t seem to have anything to talk about and he doesn’t share any ideas with me about things he would like to do when we are together.

21

The Seven Essential QuestionsThe Seven Essential Questions1. What is your spark?

2. When and where do you show your spark?

3. Who knows your spark?

4. Who helps support your spark?

5. What gets in your way?

6. How can I help?

7. How can you use your spark to make our world better?

22

Tips for Sparks ChampionsTips for Sparks Champions

Sparks can change over time Young people need multiple champions;

some to cheer, some to teach Expect “ups and downs” in the

conversations A skill is not automatically a spark Our spark may not be our work

2323

Featured ResourcesFeatured Resources Sparks: How Parents Can Ignite the Hidden

Strengths of Teenagers by Peter L Benson www.IgniteSparks.org Download more

resources www.at15.com Youth-oriented resources

based on Search Institute’s work www.search-institute.org Search Institute’s

web site and on-line catalog www.parentfurther.com Tons of useful

resources for parents

2424

ResourcesResources

MPM Training www.mpmn.org/traininginstitute

Web sites & PDFs www.delicious.com/traininginstitute

This presentation & others www.slideshare.net/traininginstitute

2525

Thank You!Thank You!

Next Quality in Action webinar is January 5, 2011; 12:00 – 1:00 pm CDT National Mentoring Month/Mentor

Recruitment Tips & Resources