Cultural Thought Provoker

Dayna Rowe, our foundation's communications specialist (major tech guru) as well as coordinator of the Fund for Teachers forwarded this from Carrie Pillsbury, the manager of marketing and communications for Fund for Teachers. 

Last week, national Fund for Teachers brought together representatives of its different partners. Damian Hoskins is from Cincinnati's STRIVE Partnership, an organization focused on "every child, every step of the way, from cradle to career." While explaining STRIVE's mission, he shared some information about a traditional greeting in the Masai tribe.

How Are the Children

Adapted by Pat Hoertdoerfer from an excerpt of a speech by Rev. Dr. Patrick T. O'Neill

Among the most accomplished and fabled tribes of Africa, no tribe was considered to have warriors more fearsome or more intelligent than the mighty Masai. It is perhaps surprising, then, to learn the traditional greeting that passed between Masai warriors:"Kasserian Ingera," one would always say to another. It means, "And how are the children?"

It is still the traditional greeting among the Masai, acknowledging the high value that the Masai always place on their children's well-being. Even warriors with no children of their own would always give the traditional answer, "All the children are well." Meaning, of course, that peace and safety prevail, that the priorities of protecting the young, the powerless, are in place. That Masai society has not forgotten its reason for being, its proper functions and responsibilities. "All the children are well" means that life is good. It means that the daily struggles for existence do not preclude proper caring for their young.

I wonder how it might affect our consciousness of our own children's welfare if in our culture we took to greeting each other with this daily question: "And how are the children?" I wonder if we heard that question and passed it along to each other a dozen times a day, if it would begin to make a difference in the reality of how children are thought of or cared about in our own country.

I wonder if every adult among us, parent and non-parent alike, felt an equal weight for the daily care and protection of all the children in our community, in our town, in our state, in our country. . . . I wonder if we could truly say without any hesitation, "The children are well, yes, all the children are well."
What would it be like . . . if the minister began every worship service by answering the question, "And how are the children?" If every town leader had to answer the question at the beginning of every meeting: "And how are the children? Are they all well?" Wouldn't it be interesting to hear their answers? What would it be like? I wonder . . .

From REACH February 1999

http://archive.uua.org/re/reach/teaching/masai.html  Retrieved 8-15-12

Masai photos from Lushpix, http://www.fotosearch.com/photos-images/masai.html

Oklahoma's Big Sister of the Year

"Sisters, sisters: Big Brothers Big Sisters honors a special volunteer"

Article on August 6, 2012 By World Staff Writer Mike Averill

The title above the newspaper photo sums up mentoring well--
"FINDING MENTORS: SOMEONE KIDS CAN COUNT ON"

Caption from photo:  "Big Brothers Big Sisters volunteer Martha Jennings is pictured with her "little sister" of nine years Brittany Stucker, 15, in Utica Square. Jennings was recently named Oklahoma's Big Sister of the Year. MICHAEL WYKE / Tulsa World"


http://www.tulsaworld.com/news/article.aspx?subjectid=11&articleid=20120806_11_A11_CUTLIN646539

A Model Program in Tulsa, OK

This school-based program speaks for itself.

Adult volunteers in the Congregation B'nai Emunah/McClure Elementary School Mentoring Program are matched in a one-on-one relationship with kindergarten through sixth grade students at McClure Elementary School in Tulsa.

Volunteers work as "literacy mentors" because they primarily focus on building reading skills to help their students close the literacy gap and read at or above their grade level.

A unique hallmark of the program is that literacy mentors are able to track their students' reading growth throughout the year, a strategy that helps the program problem-solve around best practices for supporting students.

Volunteers commit to weekly hour-long sessions which take place during the school year and summer school.

Volunteers are also able to participate in the Reading Club where they work with 1st and 2nd students in small groups to significantly increase their reading levels.

Last year, many of our students grew over a year in their reading skills and kids in the Reading Club doubled their expected growth. As the program enters its ninth year in the 2012-2013 school calendar, we are aiming for 150 volunteers to join our ranks as literacy mentors and are hoping to set new records in reading growth for struggling students. 

Literacy mentoring takes place in a portable classroom which has been designated as the "mentoring center." The program is self-contained, with a leveled library, reading games, phonics activities, math resources, and other enrichment material.

Updated program information provided Jay Pendrak, Director of Community Development

Activities, Group

Not necessarily school-specific, bicycling can be a positive, regular group mentoring activity.  Think about how this could be adapted for your mentors—learning, bonding, building self-esteem, socialization, exercise… Note that old but good bicycles were refurbished and given to those who completed the program.  [For some physically challenged students, consider tandem riding.]

"Eugene Field Bicycle Club" [Eugene Field Elementary School, Tulsa, OK]
Tulsaworld.com, 2008  
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DZ_NkTsxTuc


In addition to parks and lakes for cookouts and sporting activities, adults can use their country club memberships for outdoor events.  For instance, the Sportsman's Country Club in Oklahoma City offers a perfect venue for a themed cookout, in this case, a tailgating party in which everyone wore their school colors--heavy on OU and OSU rivalry and loud with recorded fight songs!  The private, nice facilities had everything including a lake, wildlife, built-in charcoalers, clean restrooms, picnic tables, volleyball, and horseshoes.  To customize your own event, age-appropriate games can be added, and some locations may have more playground equipment.  Grounds used during the week after work should have minimal costs.  Adults can bring potluck and drinks, and the program can pay for the weiners, hamburger, and buns (as we did.).  A sports personality or two can also be invited to make a special appearance and pose for photos.

Some country clubs and sports clubs may allow discounted or free-for-nonprofit use of interior sports areas by special arrangement.  Pickleball, for instance, a combination of badminton, tennis, and table tennis elements, has become popular since it is more accessible to a wider range of players, especially children and seniors.  Look for learning opportunities for all ages.


Videotaping and posting children’s activities

Based upon this assembly-based school activity, any time a mentoring group or program does an activity that is entertaining, film and post it on YouTube.  The Boys and Girls Club of Oklahoma City, for example, had its own version of the cirque du soleil, for which members practiced and performed for families, staff, mentors, supporters, etc.  That would have been a fun, unusual post!  Many mentoring groups have sports-related activities or service projects in the community.  Older youths can help video and edit.  Let your imagination be your guide in what activities to create, video and post.

"Eugene Field 4th Grade 2010, Thriller"  [Eugene Field Elementary School, Tulsa, OK]
Assembly, May 7, 2010  
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BFMkGKVEo7s&feature=relmfu

Videos retrieved 7-31-12

Video, Mentor/Mentee Panel, NMS 2012

National Mentoring Summit, January 25, 2012

From my notes of this luncheon panel and avoiding video content as much as possible:                                                                                                                                           
A couple of questions:  Where would you be…, what did the program or your mentor provide, what about time to be a mentor…   One response:  “Make time instead of watching TiVo!”                                                           

Mentors provided motivation in a variety of areas including reasons to continue education.
                                        
Tiani is mentored by Joy. “Where would you be if not for the College-Bound Program?”

Jimmy  Fred, the middle school principal, who has mentored Jimmy for seven years beginning in eighth grade, said being a principal is not necessarily a one-on-one business as mentoring is.  He commented that there have been frustrating times but they just worked through them.  Jimmy, the only Asian there and presumably in his program, felt this was a problem and asked “Why?” [Implying the need for mentoring Asians, too, existed]

Jonathan  Jonathan became a gang member in fifth grade.  Big Brothers Big Sisters has a Hispanic program that changed his life when he was matched with Ron, a Marine.  Keys to their relationship success were consistency and fun!  From Ron Hines, Jonathan learned encouragement, preparation, determination, [that] life is not always easy, and [that they could] work through anything.


Chad, the panel’s youngest mentee at 12 years of age, has a single-parent mom, who thought a male role model would help him study, talk out problems, and give advice.  David, his mentor, who works in public policy, heard a Concerned Black Men National Organization’s mentoring PSA.  David’s advice is “Don’t just want something to happen, be that change! “

D'Vondre, shot by DC police at age 14 and with the prognosis of lifetime paralysis, had to learn to walk again alone in jail.  His transformation was a four-year journey.  Now he mentors!  He sees himself in some of the kids at the youth center.  He made the change by 18; at the summit he was 22 and giving back.  His mentor Kevin pointed out D’Vondre’s choices to live or not, to negotiate his life at school or on his way home, although the odds are against him.  As D’Vondre remarked in the video below, he “know[s] street politics…”  Kevin still mentors D’Vondre, a young adult.

You never know the potential of a young person until you spend time with him or her.  A mentor must have the eye of a sculptor who can see what is inside that block of rock.  [Paraphrase from the session]







http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RCteF3Z4r3Y&feature=youtu.be    Ret. 7-26-12

(This edited version on is about 12 ½ minutes long; the entire discussion was inspiring.  To skip to the mentors and mentees, drag the video's time indicator forward to the right.)

Executive Director of the Minnesota Mentoring Partnership Joellen Gonder-Spacek.
Moderator:  The Founder and Executive Director of BLACK GIRLS ROCK! Beverly Bond.
Youth mentees:  Tiani, Jimmy, Jonathan, Chad and D'Vondre.
 Adult mentors:  Joy, Fred, John (representing Ron then deployed in Afghanistan), David and Kevin.

Video Appeal

You may have to turn up the volume, but you will get the point. 

http://www.wvacademy.com/Files/Videos/are_you_my_mentor.wmv

Stanley Hupfeld Academy at Western Village is a corporate-led/community-based model.  Hospital employees cannot set one designated time per week to mentor so this model allows them to come and go at their schedules.  In addition, the corporate mentoring director Kathy Lowder recruits university students, church members, retirees, and other community members to provide mentoring during the school day.  [Photo at right:  Stanley Hupfeld with students.  By the way, even as Chairman of the INTEGRIS Family of Foundations, he still mentors as he did when he was president and CEO.]



Video link and all mentor photos from the Stanley Hupfeld Academy at Western Village Charter School






Shared by
Kathy Lowder
INTEGRIS Health
Community Wellness and Diversity Specialist
Oklahoma City, OK
   

Role Models, Activities

Whether or not you are interested in sports or the Olympics, Olympic athletes often have amazing stories, which can be shared learning moments.  Research and discuss with mentees.

“Allyson Felix, Olympic gold or bust”
Tweet from her mother whenever she is going somewhere:  “Remember who you are.”
 http://video.today.msnbc.msn.com/today/48298473#48249104








“Three Olympians to watch for”  

Michael Phelps, swimming in his third Olympics

John Orozco, Puerto-Rican American gymnast, 19-years-old from a poor but hardworking family

Maher Abu Rmeileh, Palestinian, Judoka judo competitor, sells head scarves in the market.

From guest commentators on the same show:

Sarah Robles, female weight lifter, just received one sponsor, not the “type” to endorse products; persevered even without external money; her signature quote: "Beauty is strength."

Oscar Pistorius, amputee sprinter who fought so hard to compete at the Olympics

Brady Ellison, recurve archer

http://video.today.msnbc.msn.com/today/48298473#48230633

Rock Center “Gymnast Gabby Douglas on Olympics:’I’m going to do this thing’”

Sixteen-years old, dubbed the “Flying Squirrel,” almost abandoned her dream 

http://video.today.msnbc.msn.com/today/48298473#48227000

                  

“Somalia athletes dream of Olympic gold:
Mogadishu runners Mohamed and Samsam train on dusty, dangerous streets with bullet-riddled buildings along the way.  Samsam’s home is not even what we would call a tent—superb example of discipline, dream, overcoming obstacles! 
http://video.today.msnbc.msn.com/today/48298473#48225438

“Somalia’s athletes brave war to train for the Olympics”
Islamists killed the head of the Somalian Olympic team.  Read this article for much more. (video)
http://www.channel4.com/news/somalias-athletes-brave-war-to-train-for-the-olympics

“Natalie Coughlin: ‘I’m older and much, much wiser’”
Eleven-time medalist, now 29 competing against much younger women
http://video.today.msnbc.msn.com/today/48298473#48224846

Team USA website:  http://www.teamusa.org/Athletes.aspx

All retrieved 7-24-12