National Mentoring Partnership
Frequently Asked Questions
Mobius is a relatively young organization (formed in the fall of 2002) and Chittenden County is home to numerous nonprofits. People often ask a series of questions in an attempt to better understand what Mobius does, and what our relationship is to mentoring programs in Chittenden County. Here are some of the most frequently asked questions about Mobius, and the answers to them.
- Where does the name Mobius come from?
- What is Mobius?
- What does Mobius actually do?
- Does Mobius match mentors with young people?
- Which organizations does Mobius support?
- What is a mentor?
- What is mentoring?
- Why mentoring?
- What can I offer a child?
- What does it take to be a mentor?
- Can one hour a week really make an impact?
- What do mentors gain from mentoring?
- What is the need for mentoring in Chittenden County?
- Why was Mobius created?
- How can I learn more?
- How can I get involved with mentoring?
WHERE DOES THE NAME MOBIUS COME FROM?
Mobius is actually the last name of an astronomer and mathematician who defined the Mobius strip in 1859. A one sided, one edged continuous strip of paper with a 180 degree twist in the center, it is an infinite loop, a continuous circle of connection. The Mobius strip has been used in magic, science, engineering, literature, music, art, and now, mentoring. For our purpose, Mobius is the name of our umbrella organization which represents the continuous connection between the mentor and his/her protégé. Like an actual Mobius, the mentor and his/her match are connected in a loop of infinite dialogue and learning, so that we better understand ourselves and gain strength by facing our challenges together. Mobius also represents a continuous connection to the community through mentoring. The Mobius name and logo were the creation of Michael Jager, of Jager, DiPaola, Kemp Design, who was a founding member of the Mobius board.
WHAT IS MOBIUS?
Mobius was created as an umbrella organization to support, increase, and enhance the services of the many different mentoring programs throughout Chittenden County. Mobius’ mission is to increase the number of high quality, adult to youth mentoring relationships by developing a culture of mentoring in the community, by nurturing the growth of existing programs and by building additional capacity through the creation of new mentoring programs. Mobius was the first organization that had mentoring as its entire theme and that had a board that focused exclusively on mentoring.
WHAT DOES MOBIUS ACTUALLY DO?
Mobius works to achieve its mission by creating a focus on mentoring in Chittenden County. Mobius does this by increasing public awareness about the efficacy of mentoring, by recruiting new mentors, and by seeking funding to support Mobius’ efforts and the efforts of new and existing mentoring programs. Mobius also facilitates the Chittenden County Mentoring Network monthly meetings, which fosters collaborative efforts between its members for the benefit of all mentor matches.
DOES MOBIUS MATCH MENTORS WITH YOUNG PEOPLE?
Mobius does not actually make adult to child matches. Mobius refers potential mentors who contact us to the program that seems most appropriate for their location, their lifestyle and their interests. If that program is agreeable to the new mentor, then the program will conduct an interview, background check, and training and then the program will make the match between the mentor with his/her protégé. If the original referral isn’t a good match, Mobius will connect the potential mentor to another program.
WHICH ORGANIZATIONS DOES MOBIUS SUPPORT?
Mobius supports nineteen different direct-service mentoring programs at this time. The programs that Mobius supports through the Chittenden County Mentoring Network are:
Big Buddies, Community Friends Mentoring, Connecting Youth, Connections Mentoring, DREAM, Everybody Wins! Vermont, Foster Grandparent Program, Junior/Senior Buddy, Mentor Arts, Mentors for Kids, Mentors ROAR, M.O.V.E., Planned Parenthood, Reach for the Stars, ReCycle North YouthBuild, RSVP School Buddies, Spectrum Mentoring, VSAC Gear Up, and Vermont Women's Mentoring (Adult to Adult Mentoring). All of these programs have their own parent program under which they operate along with their partnership with the Chittenden County Mentoring Network. Mobius is currently working on a new program to serve the North End youth population in Burlington.
WHAT IS A MENTOR?
A mentor is first and foremost a friend. A mentor is also a role model, a responsible and reliable adult who cares about their match, and a good listener. A mentor is not a teacher, counselor, substitute parent, or a social worker. We should add that mentors repeatedly say that they get as much out of the mentoring relationship as the child does.
WHAT IS MENTORING?
Mentoring is defined as a sustained relationship and friendship between a young person and an adult in which the adult provides the young person with support, guidance and assistance as the young person develops. The very foundation of mentoring is the idea that if caring, concerned adults are available to young people, youth will be more likely to become successful adults themselves.
WHY MENTORING?
Research repeatedly supports the notion that all children need and benefit from responsible, caring adults in their lives. Although positive, sustained relationships with parents represent a critical resource for children, other adults can provide support that is similar to the support that a parent provides. This support from other adults can either be in addition to that provided by a parent or in place of support that a parent refuses or is unable to give. For example, other adults can enhance a child’s learning skills and help build self-esteem and self-control. Mentoring is an effective strategy for positive youth development.
WHAT CAN I OFFER A CHILD?
Yourself. Everyone has something to offer. You are an individual with special talents, skills and interests that you can share with a child. You can also offer a child time. Most children need someone to simply listen and talk with them. During your time, you can share experiences, provide encouragement and wisdom and discuss new opportunities. The time you spend with a child will more than likely be different from the time they spend with any other adult in their lives. Your commitment in itself tells a child they are important and that you care; that alone is the most important message they'll receive from you.
WHAT DOES IT TAKE TO BE A MENTOR?
Commitment - spend a set amount of time each week with the young person you are going to mentor (one to four hours each week).
Patience - remember how hard it was to be young, and try to understand the circumstances the young person you are going to mentor is faced with.
Understanding - building a relationship with a young person takes time. Remember that often we need to have an understanding of where someone is coming from to know how we can help them.
CAN ONE HOUR A WEEK REALLY MAKE AN IMPACT?
Yes. School-based mentoring requires only one hour a week for a school year. Other types of mentoring, such as community-based, may require more time. However, a mentor's consistency and persistence is the key to developing a successful and meaningful relationship with a young person. In some instances, this weekly meeting is the only consistency in a child's life. A reliable and dependable mentor is more important to a child than the length of time you spend with them. Nevertheless, the powerful impact, for what seems to be little time, can generate tremendous benefits in a young person's life.
WHAT DO MENTORS GAIN FROM MENTORING?
Mentors often say that they get more out of their mentoring experience than their mentees do. They perceive the experience of being identified as a mentor and the process of mentoring in highly positive terms. Mentoring allows them to make sense of their own past experiences and current challenges, gain insight into the day-to-day lives of youth, and develop positive, more reciprocal relationships with youth.
WHAT IS THE NEED FOR MENTORING IN CHITTENDEN COUNTY?
It is estimated that more than 3,300 young people in Chittenden County are at-risk and would greatly benefit from a mentoring relationship with an adult. Currently there are about 18 mentoring programs operating independently in Chittenden County supporting 672 mentoring relationships between adult mentors and youth. Hundreds of youth already identified remain on the waiting lists and so many more would benefit from a caring relationship with an adult mentor.
WHY WAS MOBIUS CREATED?
In the Fall of 2000, The Permanent Fund for the Well-Being of Vermont Children, a Vermont Foundation, took notice of the high school drop-out rates and heroin use rates for the youngest age group in both Burlington and Winooski. Members of the Fund and others then met with community leaders including Burlington's Mayor, the Director of the United Way of Chittenden County, school superintendents and principals, police officers and judges, and directors of youth development programs and substance abuse programs. The purpose of this intensive effort was to gain insight on how best to improve outcomes for Chittenden County's youth.
The common theme from these discussions, which was supported by a then recently completed United Way survey of Chittenden County youth, was that our community's children lacked positive relationships with caring adults- a key asset (determined by the Search Institute) our young people need in order to thrive. The Permanent Fund, recognizing that there were long waiting lists at mentoring programs for children seeking adult mentors, then challenged the mentoring programs to come up with a plan.
Mentoring program coordinators had been consulting with each other and formed the Chittenden County Mentoring Network. This Network asked the United Way of Chittenden County and the Champlain Initiative for help in developing a strategic plan for recruiting adult mentors and attracting the funds needed to expand the capacity for quality mentoring relationships. In response, the Champlain Initiative formed a task force to determine how best to promote mentoring in our county. After extensive study, the plan that the task force developed called for the creation of a new non-profit. "Mobius, the Mentoring Movement" was formed. Around the same time, participants enrolled in the Leadership Champlain Program formed a study group to explore ways to strengthen recruitment efforts. Mobius was established as the result of comprehensive community planning. We value the contributions of individuals associated with these community organizations and will continue to work in partnership with them.
HOW CAN I LEARN MORE?
Mobius would be happy to help you consider the options and learn more about mentoring opportunities in Chittenden County. Call, visit or contact us.
HOW CAN I GET INVOLVED IN MENTORING?
This is the most important question of all! The first thing we suggest is that you consider becoming a mentor. The theme for National Mentoring Month 2007 was “Pass it on. Become a Mentor. ” Everyone has something to share with a child, and our experience is that you know more than you probably realize. In the eyes of a young child facing inordinate challenges, you are the wellspring of knowledge and experience for that child to become a child “at promise” rather than a child “at risk.” Through this simple act of friendship, young people acquire the assets they need to thrive. If, for some reason, you can’t become a mentor, consider donating project specific time, expertise, or money to further our cause. We are blessed with many dedicated and enthusiastic volunteers with whom you will enjoy working.
I hope this helps clarify the many aspects of Mobius. If you still have questions, please feel free to email me at andrea@mobiusmentors.org and I will include your question and a response on these pages. Please pass on what you’ve learned to someone else who might be interested in learning more about what we do here at Mobius. Help keep the movement going.
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• 802-658-1888