In honor of National Mentoring Month, PYD recently collaborated with Mass Mentoring Partnership to host a training for our Mentor Match participants on advocacy and lobbying. Participants learned how the state government operates, background on the Americans with Disabilities Act, the rules of lobbying, tips for building relationships with legislators, the history of the mentoring line item, and the importance of advocating. Participants had the opportunity to reflect on the mentors who have impacted their lives and the growth they have seen within their own mentees.
Participants learned about the Mentoring Matching Grant, which is administered through the Mass Mentoring Partnership (MMP), a statewide organization fueling the movement to expand quality youth mentoring in Massachusetts. This grant funds at least 1,300 mentoring relationship and supports 25-30 jobs at local mentoring programs on a yearly basis, thanks in large part to MMP’s work advocating for mentoring and ensuring that the grant makes it into each year’s budget.
Mentor Match is one of 26 mentoring programs throughout the Commonwealth to receive a Mentoring Matching Grant. And with the state budget due to be released soon from the Governor’s office, this was an excellent time for participants to gain knowledge on the importance advocacy and strategies to do it.
A special thanks to Elena Sokolow-Kaufman (Manager of Government Relations and Field Resources), Nate Baum (Manager of Training and Technical Assistance), and Mentor Carl Richardson (State House ADA Coordinator) for a powerful and informative training!
If you were unable to attend the training but wish to show your support for mentoring, please check out the Mass Legislature website to find your representative and send a letter of support.