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FEBRUARY 2005

Caroline Kennedy

Caroline Kennedy Speaks at Mentoring Program at Loews

By Sarah Ann Mockbee

In celebration of National Mentoring Month, the New York City Department of Education’s (DOE’s) Mentoring Program hosted over 600 mentors and mentees at the Loews Cineplex for an evening of awards, entertainment and networking. The event was highlighted by a keynote address by Caroline Kennedy, Vice Chair of the Fund for Public Schools, whose mission is to inspire belief in our public schools, to increase private sector support of public education and to encourage widespread participation in these schools. Kennedy was clearly heartened by the wonderful turnout of both the youth and their adult counterparts who have shared the responsibility of maintaining a mentor-mentee relationship throughout the school year. “When someone really believes in you, you can achieve your dreams,” she stated to an enthusiastic and confirming crowd.

Just ask Danielle Freeman, a senior at Frederick Douglass Academy and the recipient of Mentee of the Year Award.  She speaks of her mentor with confidence and delight. “She and I have connected in so many ways. During our many conversations, she has been a confidant, self-esteem booster and, most importantly, a friend. She has showed me that being there for others should be second nature.” The feeling is mutual. Her mentor, Phillipa Philpot is a web developer for Home Box Office and the recipient of the Mentor of the Year Award. She readily admits that she was nervous to meet her mentee but was soon put at ease after meeting Freeman. Now, after over a year of getting to know one another, Philpot concedes that Freeman has just as much an influence on her life as she hopes to have over Freeman’s. “She calms me after a hectic work day. Sometimes I call her the mentor!”

Freeman and Philpot have the DOE’s New York City Mentoring Program to thank for bringing them together. They were paired in November of Freeman’s junior year, after Philpot received training and support from the program. The program is in its 21st year and is the largest mentoring program operated by a school district in the United States. Unlike other mentoring organizations in the city, the DOE’s program requires individuals to volunteer through their job or other organizational affiliation. In other words, partnering organizations like law firms, financial institutions, and alumni associations pair with a specific high school. Interested employees are then screened, trained and matched with a student in the particular school his or her organization is affiliated with.  Lori Mastromauro, Director of the New York City Mentoring Program is constantly impressed by the community’s interest in mentoring.  “Over the years, we have trained thousands of volunteers in the art of mentoring and are so grateful to them for stepping up to work with our high school students”, says Mastromauro.

The goal is to allow students to gain a trusting adult relationship with someone who can field questions about college applications, career interests and life in general. After years of experience overseeing the DOE’s Mentoring Program, Lori Mastromauro knows that it is important to provide a focus for mentoring pairs.  “We ask mentors to expose students to their jobs, visit their students at school and most importantly, work with them on setting and achieving goals.” Mentees spend one hour a week or two hours every other week visiting their mentor at his or her office, allowing the mentee to experience a real-world working environment. The arrangement has been more than ideal for Raymond Chan, a senior at James Madison High School, and his mentor Phil DeImus, an employee at the Federal Reserve Bank. Chan asserts that he wanted to get involved with the program to “help prepare for college” and thought this program would be a good way to meet someone who could answer his questions. DeImus learned about the program through his employer and wanted to take the opportunity to give back to the community.

In her closing remarks, Kennedy reiterated her support for dynamic public programs such as this one. She acknowledged the critical service that the New York City Mentoring Program has provided for both the mentees and the mentors, stating, “This program helps connect our city and our students in a better way.”#

Any organization interested in becoming involved with the DOE’s New York City Mentoring Program should contact Mentor@nycdoe.net or visit the Fund for Public Schools website at www.fundforpublicschools.org.

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