MentorGirl Voice - Nov 2000

Thu Nov 30 17:09:29 EST 2000

Hello!

I'm just sending through the pipeline our debut publication, for
subscription info - see bottom of email!  I will only send this to the
list-group one time (not once a month) to give y'all a gander to what we ar=
e
up to!  :O)

Perhaps some of you would like to make suggestions for content in any of ou=
r
future newsletters!!  Feel free to contact me anytime.  And I hope you do!

Thanks and enjoy!

Leah

*************************************************************************
The MentorGirl Voice will be a grassroots focus with valuable details, news=
,
issues, books and web sites of interest to girls, women role models, all
mentors and volunteers, educators and youth groups, as well as industry
organizations. =20

We'll post technology and traditional mentoring resources and opportunities=
,
as well as dynamic options for volunteers who are currently or considering
working with girls and youth and providing information technology education
and orientation.   Many of our highlights will include our San Francisco Ba=
y
Area, nationally and abroad.   We'll also bring focus to virtual
volunteering and telementoring.  Much of what you'll hear about aren't
heavily publicized in the mainstream media.  You'll receive one newsletter
per month, sent in text format only.  Please refer to our editor for
suggestions, articles, comments, and questions: mentorgirls at mac.com.

*************************************************************************
MentorGirl Voice - November 2000

In this issue:

*LOSS OF A FRIEND AND COLLEGUE
*TECHIES DAY 2000 / Oakland, CA Report from Project SOAR
*ARTICLES in the NEWS
*GIRLS ONLY
*MENTORGIRL ROLE MODEL HIGHLIGHT
*SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT - SF BAY AREA
*NONPROFITS - TECHNOLOGY MENTORS - VOLUNTEERS - EDUCATORS
*MENTORGIRL SPOTLIGHT ON COMMUNITY AND LEARNING SITES FOR YOUTH
*EVENTS for 2001
*MENTORGIRL QUOTE OF THE MONTH
*EDITOR COMMENT

<p>*************************************************************************
DADS and DAUGHTERS

http://www.dadsanddaughters.org/heathermem.htm
We are deeply saddened to tell you that Heather Henderson, our dear friend
and colleague at Dads and Daughters, died suddenly on Sept. 27. Heather was
a wonderful Deputy Director of Dads and Daughters.

Heather's family wants her friends and colleagues to know that her death
appears to be the result of complications from bulimia, with which Heather
struggled for many years. Bulimia finally took too much of a toll on her
body, even as she was rededicating herself to recovery. For many, the
horrifying statistics about eating disorders are merely that - numbing
statistics. But for every statistic, there is a daughter struggling to live=
,
and not always succeeding. This is one of the reasons DADs exists.

We will all miss her dearly.  On a personal note, I will indeed be forever
remembering her fondly... Over time and as we became friends, it was soon
realized how much we had in common as women in our modern society.  If you'=
d
like to share her story with someone you care about, it's important to brin=
g
awareness to the challenges that girls and women face everyday.

MentorGirls.org will continue working with and posting new information from
Dads and Daughters, and we look forward to building future collaborations
with this organization and others like DADs.  They are doing great work,
please be sure to visit their site and consider how you might get involved
and participate http://www.dadsanddaughters.org

<p>*************************************************************************
TECHIES DAY 2000!

TechiesDay - October 3, 2000
Oakland, CA Students Prosper!
By Linda Kiehle of Project SOAR http://www.soar2college.org

On October 3rd an enthusiastic crowd of over 100 gathered to celebrate seve=
n
exciting technology initiatives in Oakland at 426 Alice Street, the home of
Oakland Technology Exchange West. Since the original Net Day project in
1996, Oakland Schools has created a great infrastructure for successful
learning through technology supported by initiatives in the middle and high
schools such as:  Project SOAR, Core Values, Urban Dreams, Digital High
School, OTX, National Science Foundation Grant and Homework Hotline.  On
Techies Day 2000 we wanted to both spotlight these successful initiatives
and provide industry volunteers to our classrooms for career awareness
presentations.  A short program was held featuring Richard Marino, Presiden=
t
CNET.com; Dennis Chaconas, Superintendent OUSD and Dean Arthurlene Towner,
Cal State University Hayward, Dept. of Education and Allied Studies and OTX
founder Bruce Buckelew.

>From their San Francisco headquarters over 30 CNET employee volunteers were
on hand for classroom presentations at Oakland Middle and High schools,
while tech industry volunteers held assemblies for fifth graders at
Thornhill and Highland elementary schools.
=20
Teacher=B9s comments included: from Oakland High School Computer Academy, "I
just want to thank you for the great group you sent to Oakland High.  The
kids thought they were great, young, hip and very interesting.  They were
just perfect for us."

Student comments included: from Fremont High Media Academy, "Thank you for
the Techies Day experience.  The people from CNET were really cool and the
kids really liked them.  They were inspirational and we wanted to thank the=
m
for all their help.  They really did help us!"

Several techie volunteers stayed at OTX West with Bruce Buckelew to help
prepare computers for the Project SOAR take home computer program.  During
this school year, Project SOAR take home computer package for each eligible
SOAR student includes a refurbished computer from the OTX West program, a
software package from New Deal School Suite, Office 2000 and a modem for
each computer from 3Com.  Our goal is to be able to provide each of the
3,500 students with a take home computer package, provide a training
orientation with the student and at least one parent participating and
connect the family to the Internet.

Techies Day 2000 Oakland was a successful launching of this vital component
of the Project SOAR program to prepare the 3,500 SOAR students to be colleg=
e
freshmen 2005.

Thanks to everyone for their contributions on TechiesDay and into the
future!

<p>*************************************************************************
ARTICLES

"Helping Young Writers, Cyber-Style"
by Julee Newberger, Connect for Kids
These days, pen pals don't stamp envelopes -- they send e-mails. Julee
Newberger reports on the Cyber Pen Pals program in DC public schools, which
combines reading, writing and one-on-one relationships with adult mentors.
http://www.connectforkids.org/content1556/content_show.htm?attrib_id=3D343&do=
c
_id=3D39024

<p>*************************************************************************
GIRLS ONLY

AAUW=20
Eleanor Roosevelt Teacher Fellows
The American Association of University Women is one of the best kept secret=
s
in educational funding today.  This program provides up to $9,000 in
fellowship support for women K-12 public school teachers, who teach math,
science, and/or technology as part of their teaching load.  They also offer
Community Action Grants for individuals and community-based nonprofit
organizations.  Visit http://www.aauw.org and click on "Fellowships, Grants
and Awards" for details.

<p>Educating Jane
by Dawn Welch (Nocera)
Founder and Developer
http://www.educatingjane.com

"EducatingJane.com celebrates and empoweres today's girls and young women.
This site is part of information for and about girls from preschool to
college, to help give them the best opportunities to succeed.  Although you
will find topics such as developing preschool science and math skills, the
focus is on developing success skills such as self-awareness, networking,
mentoring, and personal management.  If you have a daughter, if you are a
daughter, or if you teach daughters, EducatingJane.com isa unique resource
for information and inspiration."

New Moon Wins Parents' Choice Award
http://www.newmoon.org/
New Moon for Girls received the Parents' Choice Gold Award for Best
Children's Magazine for 8 to 14 year olds. They also received this award in
1995, 1997 and 1999. In 1998, New Moon received the Parents' Choice
Recommendation and in 1996, the Parents' Choice Foundation's Silver Award.
New Moon for Girls has been publishing for seven years, they should be very
proud of these achievements! These folks are making incredible impact!

The  Parents' Choice Foundation is committed to contemporary children and
parents who try to maintain universal human values while living in a cultur=
e
that, for the first time in history changes constantly and with meteoric
speed. Visit their web site at www.parents-choice.org

Women and Girls' Tech Up
http://www.techup.org
A collaboration of sixteen California women and girls' organizations,
recently unveiled a webzine that showcases ideas and creative work from an
18-month electronic conference. The Women's Foundation and the Electronic
Frontier Foundation, both based in San Francisco, created the pilot program
to address their concern about the under-representation of women and girls
online. Funded by SBC/Pacific Bell, Women and Girls' Tech Up facilitated
dialogue and collaboration among young women and adult practitioners and
investigated the barriers faced by women, girls, and small nonprofits in
accessing and utilizing new technology. Young women provided much of the
content for the 'zine that features these topics: Mentorship, Media,
Technology, Activism, and Express and Create.

<p><p>*************************************************************************
MENTORGIRL ROLE MODEL HIGHLIGHT

Girls with Courage and Women who Soar:

Not only do I have a deep respect for what Joanna has accomplished with her
website, what vision!  I also have had opportunity to talk with her, and
indeed she is an amazing woman and wow; I have been touched by her story of
how she connected as a mentor to a young girl who had reached out for role
models.  I have also been touched by her grace and warmth, a perfect role
model even for this girl - me, Leah Dawn :O)

Thanks Joanna for sharing your story...!

*~

"About a year ago, I received a handwritten request from an 11 year old hom=
e
schooled girl in N. Carolina to answer some questions.  She explained that
she was researching role models, found my web site and considered me a good
role model.  The questions were concerning my experience with puberty.  I s=
o
thoroughly enjoyed answering the questions (hadn't considered that time of
my life in such a long time) that after answering the questions, I asked he=
r
to be my pen-pal.  This led to her mother contacting me to thank me for
helping her daughter overcome shyness and explained that they were turning
the responses they received into a book, "Women Who Soar".  All this becaus=
e
I took a few minutes out of my day to respond to a young girl.  Liza is 13
now and has written a wonderful article, "Finding Role Models", which is
featured on my web site, http://www.women-mentors.com and I have a
'surrogate family' in N. Carolina.  Take those few minutes!  Joanna Vallo,
Publisher of Woman As Mentors"

*~

Direct link to article by Liza and information about the upcoming book,
"Woman Who Soar":  http://www.women-mentors.com/rolepg.html

What a bright smile and aura full of happiness, this sweet girl Liza Bolin
is incredible! The project that she and her mother are endeavoring is reall=
y
inspirational and should all give us a fodder for thought.  Be sure to
contact Joanna regarding her very amazing website, and what she is doing to
help bring woman together and consider our roles as mentors for girls
everywhere.

MentorGirls are lovin' this Internet bonding and connecting that's going on=
!
:O)

<p>*************************************************************************
SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT - SF BAY AREA

Girls Inc. of Alameda County Launches Computer Center Programs for Girls
http://www.girlsinc-alameda.org/main.shtml

On November 6, 2000, Girls Inc. of Alameda County began delivering computer
classes to girls ages 9-18.  The classes are available to any girl
completely free of charge.  The goal of the computer center is to encourage
girls to build self-esteem with information technology and get comfortable
with concepts of career choices in high tech, engineering, and new media.
These classes will offer girls a chance to learn skills they can use in rea=
l
life situations and can get prepared for the future.

Tuesdays and Thursdays the Girls Inc. Computer Center will offer two
classes:  The first class offered will be an entry level class offered that
covers basic PC computer skills and orientation.  Then, this MS Windows
based class will progress to teaching MS Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and
Internet publishing tools.  The second class offered will focus on more
advanced Internet skills and orientation, safe and effective Internet
research and search engine strategy; and more advanced web page design and
publishing.

Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays the Girls Inc. Computer Center will offer
girls opportunity to have 'free time' with the computers for school
homework, use of email, exploring, and peer connections.

The new Computer Center Coordinator is Giovanna Morrow, she is a very
enthusastic technology educator for youth! She tells me that it is
incredibly exciting to have the opportunity to work with the community and
hope that word spreads fast in the East Bay so that more girls can join in
the fun and learn in a group setting!

Please be sure to contact Giovanna Morrow, Computer Center Coordinator
Girls Incorporated of Alameda County
13666 E. 14th Street
San Leandro, CA  94578
Ph: 510-357-5515, ext. 55

<p>*************************************************************************
NONPROFITS - TECHNOLOGY MENTORS - VOLUNTEERS - EDUCATORS

The Digital Heroes Campaign, Expanding the World of Mentoring
http://www.mentoring.org/dhc_people/index.htm

ePALS
http://www.epals.com/
ePALS is the world's largest online classroom community, connecting over 2.=
6
million students and teachers through 36,136 profiles. Members from over
65,000 classrooms in 182 countries use our free online collaborative
technology.  Offered in English, French, Spanish, Dutch and Portuguese!

iMentor=20
http://www.imentor.org/
iMentor matches young people from underserved communities with adult
volunteers who share career interests. Mentors & mentees email, meet
in-person from time to time, and complete projects together online to help
students learn about careers and technology.  Young people develop
relationships with caring adults while gaining important skills. Schools &
youth agencies use technology in new ways to help their students. And even
the busiest adults have a flexible and meaningful way to volunteer!

Information and Resources for Non-Profit Volunteers
http://nonprofit.about.com/careers/nonprofit/msubvol.htm?pid=3D2770&cob=3Dhomey=
o
uth!=20

NetMentors.org
http://www.netmentors.org/
NetMentors.Org is a nonprofit organization that helps students develop
career aspirations by enlisting the support of experienced industry
professionals entirely through the Internet.

Teachers.net
http://www.teachers.net/
Teachers.Net is a diverse family of Internet resources committed to
providing free mentoring support to every segment of the education
profession worldwide. Educators needing assistance with any topic, from web
page building to classroom management, from literacy education to science
fair projects, you will find free and enthusiastic support.

Voluntech.org
http://www.Voluntech.org
Voluntech.org's mission is to promote the equitable distribution of
technology by bringing together volunteer technology experts with
not-for-profit organizations, schools, and community groups.

<p>*************************************************************************
MENTORGIRL SPOTLIGHT ON COMMUNITY AND LEARNING SITES FOR YOUTH

http://www.bygpub.com/books/tg2rw/volunteer.htm
20 Ways for Teenagers to Help Other People by Volunteering!  An excerpt fro=
m
the Teenagers Guide to the Real World Online

http://butterflywebsite.com/
The Butterfly Website - The most amazing reference for butterflies on the
web!  Find an email pal or pen pal to talk about everything butterfly!  The=
y
have a wonderful family of nature based websites that can't be missed!  Be
sure to share this site with your family, friends, and students!

http://www.eyelid.co.uk/numbers.htm
Where the Egyptians really excelled was in medicine and applied mathematics=
.
But although there is a large body of papyrus literature describing their
achievements in medicine, there is no records of how they reached their
mathematical conclusions. Of course they must have had an advanced
understanding of the subject because their exploits in engineering,
astronomy and administration would not have been possible without it.

<p>*************************************************************************
EVENTS for 2001

National Women's History Month 2001
http://nwhp.org/whm/themes/themes.html
Because the 20th Century clearly was the women=B9s century. It=B9s the century
women literally marched themselves into full public view. By sheer force of
will and courage, they shattered legal barriers and overturned prevailing
notions about what women can and want to do with their lives.

International Year of Volunteers 2001
http://www.iyv2001.org/
2001 has been proclaimed the International Year of Volunteers (IYV) by the
United Nations General Assembly. Aiming at increased recognition,
facilitation, networking and promotion of volunteering, IYV highlights the
achievements of the millions of volunteers worldwide who devote some time o=
f
their lives to serving others, and to encourage more people globally to
engage in volunteer activity.

MentorGirls.org and our Mentor Collective are currently discussing potentia=
l
events that we can plan in 2001 to support the International Year of the
Volunteer; merging this celebration with other events happening locally in
our San Francisco Bay Area (such as TechiesDay in October!).  We'd like to
establish yearly recognition for all our information technology and
traditional mentors, role models who are making impact in our communities
and schools!  Let us know if you'd like to contribute or otherwise
participate!

<p>*************************************************************************
MENTORGIRL QUOTE OF THE MONTH

"A woman is like a teabag. You never know how strong she is until she
gets into hot water."
~* Eleanor Roosevelt *~
(1884-1962; First Lady, Author, Humanitarian) - and Leah's role model!

Please send us your favourite quotes from women role models that have
touched your life!  We'd be pleased to post them in future publications of
the MentorGirl Voice...

*************************************************************************
EDITOR COMMENT

Thanks muchly to everyone for their positive energy and for helping our
first newsletter move right along. I hope we have represented your
organizations and efforts justly, and have given our readers opportunity to
expand awareness of the dedication that goes into keeping our girls proud
and persistent into their personal experience of our world... It's nice to
see so many out there doing wonderful things and making a difference.

Be sure to visit our website often as we will continually update our
resource directory, as well as bring a spotlight onto incredible programs &
opportunities for role models/mentors to connect with communities and mento=
r
youth.

There is a lot of good work going on out there, you all should be proud of
yourselves.  Keep it up, continue connecting and networking, visualize the
creativity that is all around us as we use information technology to stay i=
n
touch.

Warm regards,

Leah Dawn
Founder - Director
http://www.MentorGirls.org
Editor, MentorGirl Voice

Mentor a Girl!

*************************************************************************
Letters to the editor: mentorgirls at mac.com - we welcome sharing of
experiences, storytelling for education, suggestions, articles, comments,
and questions! We are happy to post mentor & volunteer opportunities.

Please DO NOT FORWARD this message.
Email addresses are NOT SHARED with anyone.
Please ASK OTHERS TO SUBSCRIBE so they may receive this email directly
& in a timely manner.  http://www.topica.com/lists/MentorGirls-Newsletter

All services, programs, and events mentioned are registered trademarks or
trademarks of their respective entities.
*************************************************************************

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
You are subscribed to the YouthLearn (http://www.youthlearn.org) electronic
mailing list, part of the YouthLearn online community, an entrepreneurial venture of the Morino Institute (http://www.morino.org)

For information on unsubscribing to YouthLearn or changing your settings,
please see our Web site:  http://youthlearn.org/join/mailing.html

To send a message to YouthLearn, email: youthlearn at listserv.morino.org

If you haven't visited the Web site lately, please take a look!
We are adding content all the time! Questions?  Email Victoria Vrana, list facilitator, vvrana at morino.org
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Youthlearn Discussion Forum is powered by L-Soft's LISTSERV(R) software
http://www.lsoft.com/LISTSERV-powered.html