Seeking Contributions for MentorGirls.org and the MentorGirl Voice

[Leah Dawn]

Hey Folks,

I am recently returning to this exceptional YouthLearn Discussion forum and
hope that this post is appropriate.  I look forward to being in touch with
this forum and the membership, just please realize that I am right now on a
bit of medical leave, but still I am working a teensy bit with my project
MentorGirls.org. I am the Founder of this grassroots organization/community
outreach program based out of Santa Clara Valley, California (Silicon Valley
and San Francisco Bay Area).  For about 2 years, I've managed and nurtured
our webspace resource located at http://www.mentorgirls.org.   A 'work in
progress' webspace - we offer up a clearinghouse of subject specific
resources for mentors, educators, parents; and most of the info is targeted
toward women involved in all realms of Information and Communications
Technology.  It is our goal with MentorGirls.org to provide a central
location where prospective and seasoned mentors/educators/role models/youth
groups can utilize these valuable resources from one repository where
everyone can Contribute. By connecting with peers, sharing resources, and
getting involved in online and local community action, visitors to our
webspace will gain a positive perspective, creating swirls of enthusiasm
toward getting involved as mentors and role models in our communities...

In an effort to keep the MentorGirls.org mission alive whilst I recover from
recent lumbar spinal reconstructive surgery, I have been (hoping) planning
for a major overhaul of our website (I just can't do it myself anymore).
Disabled access to our webspace is important as well, and I am seeking web
developers to volunteer their time to help MentorGirls.org evolve into the
future, becoming accessible to everyone possible.   We will also be
introducing original content included within MentorGirls.org... At some
point, it would be nice to bring our site to a multi-language format.  If
there is anyone with expertise in any of these areas -  I will be
interviewing folks over the coming several weeks and throughout 2001... If
you or someone you know would be interested in a purely altruistic endeavor,
contact me or pass this info along as appropriate - permission granted.
Payoff in Karma points will be exceptional.  We will be going to a 501c3
status later in the year or even early 2002, this may provide us with more
options for acquiring resources, including fundraising efforts and
subsequent paid positions within MentorGirls.org  If you have any interest
in being involved in the immediate, during our California Non-Profit Org
transition, or our more future future... I'd be happy to hear from anyone
who wishes to discuss the potentials.  It's so obvious that mentors need
more resources and ways to connect with communities.

Presently, I am seeking to connect ASAP with interested co-editors for our
upcoming newsletter, the MentorGirl Voice.  I am also seeking original
articles and gender-specific writing contributions.  Ideally, I'd enjoy to
hear from women role models and IT mentors who are currently working with
girls in an IT & cyberculture environment. I'm also interested to hear from
all types of seasoned mentors and volunteers, as well as the up and coming
mentors who are seeking a journey through Mentor Land.

Perhaps the following detail will help y'all realize the validity of what
I'm up to (even tho we are not an official 501c3 org <yet!>).  To show why
our MentorGirl Voice publication is an important part of fulfilling the
objectives of MentorGirls.org and our upcoming evolution - I will share
without divulging or compromising privacy of our subscribers - We do have
MentorGirl Voice newsletter subscribers that total over 150 e-subscribers so
far; including the AAUW (American Association of University Women), the
Italy based "Global Junior Challenge", the "Stockholm Challenge"; as well as
folks from the "International Year of Volunteers 2001". I'm pleased to have
subscribers from Intel and CNET, and similar other corporations.  Various
folks are subbed from the K-12 and University sector here in our SF Bay
Area, as well as nationally and abroad.  We are honoured to have members of
multi-continent parliament on board, as well as UK educational institutions
and community organizations.  We've welcomed our local Santa Clara County
local governments and Santa Clara Valley Unified School District; along with
SF Bay Area local mentoring coalitions.  Proud to have interest from quite a
few folks working with established youth groups such as Girl Scouts, Boys
and Girls Clubs, Plugged-In, TECH CORPS, San Francisco School to Career
Partnership, the E. San Jose Boys and Girls Club (Intel Clubhouse Network),
the New Moon Network for Girls, Dads and Daughters, CyberSisters, etc. etc.
etc.  Let's not forget the many dedicated and amazing individuals who are
mentoring in our own Bay Area, many from the Northwest regions as well as
both the East Coast and Mid-West areas.  We warmly welcome representatives
from dynamic organizations serving our youth and global communities.  Many
of whom are all working with CTC's and youth group programs of all types,
including those who are sponsoring and nurturing girls' IT programs.

I'd like to honour these folks (and you) who support our initiatives, by
making a call for participation in building our Summer, Fall and Winter 2001
issues of the MentorGirl Voice and/or enhancing our web presence.
Especially whilst I am mostly on medical leave hiatus, I know when it is
time to ask for help - and I'm asking y'all to pitch in for 2001 (and beyond
if you like!).  Please feel free to check out our info page describing our
newsletter, I encourage you to sign up and peruse our past issues <web based
only> at <http://www.topica.com/lists/MentorGirls-Newsletter> INFO PAGE then
link to sign up.

This is what is coming up, will need various contributions to build up the
content of our publication:

** Summer 2001 ** - Our MentorGirl Voice newsletter theme will be to put a
spotlight on "Take our Daughters to Work Day"
<http://www.takeourdaughterstowork.org/>. It is my goal to highlight
individual (mentor, parent, girls) experiences for the upcoming April 26
event (tomorrow). Primary objective of our summer issue is to RECAP what
folks, corporations, and schools have been up to in support and in
participation of this annual event.  If you are involved in the 'Take our
Daughters to Work Day" I'd like to hear about your involvement, what it
means to you and the girl you are including into your day.  What resulted
from the experience, how do you feel about this event and your potential to
reach a girl in a such a powerful manner?  Will there be follow up with your
mentee, or is this just a one-time thing?  Are parents planning on hooking
up their girls with mentors after this event, and if so - how do they plan
to accomplish this...?  What are classrooms and teachers doing to support
the TODWD initiatives?  It would be super to hear from many folks across the
board who will be enthused to share their experiences.  It would be
exceptional to include feedback from the many young girls who participating
mentors are sponsoring, or if you are a parent who will be bringing along
your daughter to work tomorrow!  I'd be pleased to include a mother/daughter
perspective, even a father/daughter perspective will fit in nicely.

** Fall 2001 ** - Our MentorGirl Voice theme will be "Consistency with
Relationship Building & Mentor Retention with Girls and All Our Youth".
This is an important topic that deserves attention and discussion.  Seems
there is a bit of attrition in the mentoring world with various volunteers
and mentors.  I hear a lot about this challenge from many folks, this can be
one of the more major problems facing youth groups and our communities.
Kids need consistent role models and mentors!! Question: What does it mean
to YOU to be a mentor, and what advice would you have to anyone who is
actively or considering mentoring to help them stick with it and not drop
out when right in the middle of relationship building.  This can have
devastating impact on youth who is depending on their mentor/mentee
commitment to connect even just a few hours a week, perhaps only few hours a
month. When there is a break in the system - everyone suffers.  Let's hear
from seasoned mentors, as well as the new mentor - What does consistency and
relationship building mean to you?  And, why do YOU think relationship
building is it vital to the mentor/mentee dynamic?  How can youth prosper by
our contributions and involvement in their young lives?

Thank you so much for listening to my post, and for your consideration to
participate in our MentorGirls.org objectives.

Please drop me an email at mentorgirls at mac.com and I'll get back to every
inquiry as soon as I can... If you have questions about MentorGirls.org -
please visit our webspace and poke around... I'd be interested to know how
intuitive the site is these days, and if it is clear what we are trying to
accomplish.

ENJOY 'TAKE OUR DAUGHTERS TO WORK DAY!'  This event is tomorrow and I hope
to hear from folks who are participating...! Check out details at
<http://www.takeourdaughterstowork.org/>

Cheers!

Leah Dawn

Founder/Director
MentorGirls.org
Editor:  MentorGirl Voice e-Newsletter
Web:    <http://www.mentorgirls.org>
email:  mentorgirls at mac.com

Mentor A Girl!

"Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change
the world; indeed, it's the only thing that ever has."
    -- Margaret Mead, Anthropologist and Humanitarian

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