"For me, Facing Forward was ultimately a reminder of the importance of creativity and community in my own life, and the world at large. Every woman should have a circle of women who love her unconditionally simply because she is a fellow woman . . . a circle where she belongs and where her beauty and power
and creativity are encouraged. I believe that is what we were able to give the girls.”
Fall 2007 Mentor
About Facing Forward
The Junior League of Saginaw Valley is collaborating with Creative Spirit Center to provide Facing Forward: Journey into Womanhood, a mentoring program that provides young women with a positive experience relating to adult women through creative arts activities.
The Legacy Center for Student Success found in a recent study of Midland County youth that risk-taking behaviors decline when local youth have an improved sense of self-esteem, access to creative activities and positive adult role models. These results are consistent with those found in national studies. The Legacy Center for Student Success is developing and applying outcome measures to assess the results of the project. Funding is provided for 2007 - 2009 through the Junior League of Saginaw Valley, and thereafter through other community support.
INFORMATION FOR POTENTIAL MENTORS
Spring 2009
If you choose to become a mentor for Facing Forward: Journey into Womanhood, you will be teamed with a high school student. You will be this young woman’s partner throughout the six-week program.
This experience promises to be as valuable to you, the mentor, as it is to the student! Caring about young people is of course a characteristic of Facing Forward mentors. In addition, each mentor is asked to:
• Attend a 2-hour orientation session with project staff and school administration
• Understand the Facing Forward project goals
• Demonstrate effective listening skills
• Demonstrate an appreciative and strength-based approach to her mentee
• Complete a pre- and post-program questionnaire
• Have an intention for 100% attendance in the program
• Take a pledge of confidentiality about personal information shared during the program
• Respect her own and others’ creative process
• Be open to trying new things
• Discuss any reservations about the program in a timely manner with project staff and advisors
• Help project staff recruit future new mentors by speaking to others about their experience
Spring 2009 Dates and Times (choose one):
EARLY AFTERNOON - 12:30 - 2:00 PM (working with students from ETC and Franklin)
Orientation meeting: Monday, March 2
Classes meet: March 9, 13, 16, 23, 27, 30, and April 3, 13, 17, 24, 27, and May 1 (please note – this schedule reflects skips in days due to 2 professional days (March 20 and April 20) and spring break (April 6-10))
LATE AFTERNOON - 4:00 - 5:30 PM (working with students from The Juvenile Care Center)
Orientation meeting: Monday, March 2
Classes meet: March 9, 13, 16, 23, 27, 30, and April 3, 13, 17, 24, 27, and May 1 (please note – this schedule reflects skips in days due to 2 professional days (March 20 and April 20) and spring break (April 6-10)
There is no charge to mentors. All program materials are supplied. The Junior League of Saginaw Valley has provided a three-year funding commitment to Facing Forward as well as substantial planning and volunteer involvement.
For more information e-mail Colleen Reed at creed@creativespiritcenter.org or telephone 989.837.1885.
