Mentor 2.0 begins this fall

Big Brothers/Big Sisters will begin its Mentor 2.0 program in the fall. Mentor 2.0 is an innovative program conducted primarily online through emails and instant messages, augmented by monthly in-person get-togethers. Its purpose is to help high school students prepare for college and career by matching them one-to-one with college-educated mentors. It provides students with a curriculum that lasts through all four years of high school, focusing on developing the academic, social and emotional skills needed to successfully complete high school, win college admission and graduate from college.

CREC’s Academy of Science and Innovation (ASI) in New Britain will collaborate with Nutmeg Big Brothers Big Sisters on Mentor 2.0, enrolling its entire in-coming 9th grade class in the program. Nutmeg is currently recruiting volunteers so it can match all 110 ASI ninth graders with caring, inspirational mentors to help them better prepare for college and career.

“Mentor 2.0 makes it easy for busy professionals to mentor,” said Allison Holst-Grubbe, Director of School-Based Programs at Nutmeg Big Brothers Big Sisters. “We’re asking mentors to commit to sending a weekly message – for which we provide a prompt – to the student they’re mentoring. We’re also asking mentors to meet their mentees once each month at the Academy of Science and Innovation for a two-hour get-together conducted by Nutmeg. Mentor 2.0 is a streamlined method of mentoring designed specifically for busy professionals and students – one that pays big dividends to both students and mentors.”

“Ninth graders in public schools with weak attendance records have a very small chance of graduating from high school and college,” said Andy Fleischmann, President and CEO of Nutmeg Big Brothers Big Sisters. “Data from other states show that Mentor 2.0 can dramatically boost students’ chances of attending and graduating from college. And, Mentor 2.0 makes it easier than ever to become a Big Brother or Big Sister - since weekly online communication is not a challenge for most working professionals.”

If you would like to learn more about Mentor 2.0, or if you would like to volunteer for Mentor 2.0, visit: nutmeg.imentor.org. Or, contact Margarita Laboy, Program Manager at: Margarita@nbbbs.org.