Young Women Leaders
Mentor Program
2016 - 2017
Mentor Handbook
Perseverance [pur-suh-veer-uhns]: Steady persistence in a course of action, a
purpose, a state, etc. Synonyms – tenacity, determination, staying power
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Table of Contents
Welcome Letter
Overview
Program Requirements
Calendar of Events
Overview of the Mentoring Program
Effective Mentoring Relationships
The Role of the Mentee
Transportation Information
Scholarship Fundraising
Ice Breaker Questions
Academic Progress and Goal Setting
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EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
President
Lisa Jimenez
Dear Mentors,
Secretary
Stephanie Weisman
Treasurer
Lynae Steinhagen
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Samantha Cantilena
Tiffany Dalton
Breeanna Fujio
Mahasti Islami
Annie Lofthouse
Tecla Lunak
Christine Marra
Nyla Patzner
Jenell Vandenbos
ADMINISTRATOR
Katrina Thomas
FOUNDER
Mary T. Roche
Women Leaders Forum of the Coachella Valley (WLF) is pleased to
announce the 2016 - 2017 Young Women Leaders (YWL) program which
offers an opportunity for eligible high school senior girls to apply for a
scholarship of up to $5,000 for a 4-year college or university.
Our goal is to equip young women with the education, tools, and
confidence to go into the world as a woman leader. Through the
educational workshops, they will learn about public speaking, preparing for
college life, health and wellness, leadership, community service, and
professional etiquette.
High school seniors will also have the opportunity to participate in a oneon-one career mentoring program – that’s where you come in! We work
hard to match every interested high school senior with a professional WLF
mentor in a career field of interest (depending upon availability). Each
mentorship pair will spend a minimum of 16 hours together over the course
of the program.
Following successful completion of the mentoring program hours and
completing the required 5 of 6 educational workshops, senior YWLs are
given an opportunity to apply for a Women Leaders Forum scholarship. The
mentee’s full participation is mandatory for scholarship eligibility, so please
review requirements in this handbook to support your mentee in
completing all the program requirements.
As co-chairs of Young Women Leaders program we are honored to help
each and every one of you as you mentor a Young Woman Leader. We look
forward to an exciting new year with you!
Sincerely,
Tiffany Dalton, Annie Lofthouse, and Bree Fujio, YWL Co-Chairs
Lisa Jimenez, President
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Overview of the Mentoring Program
Thank you for your participation in the One-to-One Mentoring Program. You are about to embark
on the phenomenal experience of shaping the lives of young women in our community. You have
been matched with one (or more) senior high-school student. The young woman (or women)
you are paired with is prepared to spend a minimum of 16 hours with you, learning various
aspects of your job, and what is required in your profession. This is your opportunity to provide
a first-hand view what it’s like to work in a particular industry/workplace. Students are
encouraged to ask questions and get detailed input about the profession. And, all the Young
Women Leaders will be coached on the importance of confidentiality, punctuality, appropriate
attire and good communication.
Program Requirements




Two to three mentoring hours per month between the months of October 2016 and April
2017, for a total of 16 hours. Please note that some students will only be available for full
days during holiday breaks, due to their class and sports schedules. Inquire with your
assigned mentee(s) about availability so you can plan accordingly.
o The mentees have been prompted to initiate contact with you directly. Please call
or email your mentee by the end of the first week if you have not heard from her.
Mentoring will take place at your place of employment. Students are responsible for
transportation to and from your workplace. Please contact the mentor liaison if you are
not able to accommodate mentoring at your place of employment and she can help with
alternative arrangements.
Mentors are responsible for approving the hours submitted by mentees via the YWL
online portal at www.ywldesert.org.
o You will receive an email notice to approve all hours submitted by your mentee(s).
o Approval of submitted hours ensures scholarship consideration for your
mentee(s).
o Please email [email protected] immediately if there is a problem with the online
submission of mentoring hours by your mentee(s).
o All hours must be submitted and approved by April 15, 2017
Upon completion of the 16-hour mentorship time requirement for your mentee(s), we
ask that you complete a Mentor Evaluation Form.
o You will receive a link to this evaluation via email.
o Please complete and return the evaluation for by April 15, 2017.
We hope your experience with the YWL Mentoring Program is a positive and uplifting one. If
there’s anything we can do to make it better, please contact:
Tiffany Dalton
Email: [email protected]
Work: 760-285-1221
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Calendar of Events
By committing to the Young Women Leaders program, mentees are prepared to attend 5 of the
6 educational workshops listed below.
 Note: Orientation and the Art and Etiquette event are mandatory for mentors and
mentees, as they provide an overview of the program and the chance to meet once
pairings have been made.
Date and Time
Event
Location
9/25/16
(Sunday)
Noon-4pm
Orientation – Mandatory for all YWLs
 Program overview & expectations
 Career roundtables – learn from various
mentors about their professions
DEADLINE: Senior Mentorship Applications Due
Braille Institute of America
70251 Ramon Road
Rancho Mirage, CA 92270
Art and Etiquette Event – Mandatory for
Mentoring Seniors and Mentors
 Mentors and Mentees are introduced
 Educational lecture on art and etiquette
 Lunch is provided
FIND Food Bank Community Service Day
 Check-in at 8:30 with signed permission
slips
 Dress comfortably; wear close-toed shoes
and a light jacket or sweater
 Lunch is provided
Public Speaking & Executive Presence
 Effective speaking and presentation tips
Palm Springs Art Museum in
Palm Desert
72-567 Highway 111
Palm Desert, CA 92260
Preparing for College Life
 Organization, priority and time
management
 Financial matters and budgets
 Dorm life
 Campus safety
 Getting involved and having fun
Health and Wellness
 Nutrition
 Yoga and mindfulness
 Creating a happy and healing
environment
Braille Institute
70251 Ramon Road
Rancho Mirage, CA 92270
DEADLINE: All Mentoring Hours Input online
www.ywldesert.org
Location and Time TBD
10/22/16
11/19/16
(Saturday)
11:00am – 3:00pm
12/10/16
(Saturday)
8:30am – 1:00pm
01/22/17
(Sunday)
Noon – 4:00pm
02/12/17
(Sunday)
Noon – 4:00pm
03/26/17
(Sunday)
Noon – 4:00pm
04/15/17
May 2017
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Scholarship Award Luncheon
www.ywldesert.org
F.I.N.D. Food Bank
83775 Citrus Avenue
Indio, CA 92201
Braille Institute
70251 Ramon Road
Rancho Mirage, CA 92270
Braille Institute
70251 Ramon Road
Rancho Mirage, CA 92270
Overview of the Mentoring Program
Mentoring is exciting, challenging and rewarding. It holds great promise for helping young people
in a meaningful way. Caring mentors offer support, consistency, and a chance for young persons
to develop the knowledge and skills needed for their fullest potential. Mentors have the
opportunity to pass on values, lessons learned and social skills from their generation to the next.
Given the realities of our public high schools and the difficulties associated with adolescence,
mentoring may not be "smooth sailing." It is an experience, however, through which mentor and
student mentees can learn and change.
Mentors make a difference in the lives of young people. The close relationship with student
mentees may also provide personal benefits to the mentor such as:
 More satisfaction when they return to the work place
 More fulfillment with the commitment as a volunteer in the community
 A greater understanding of the education system and education-related issues
 Appreciation for students of the same and other cultures
 Satisfaction of having impacted a student's life
Effective Mentoring Relationships
In a recent study, Public/Private Ventures attempted to define effective adult/youth
relationships and determine if such relationships do in fact develop in an intergenerational
setting. Based on this study, the following are recommended strategies for interacting with your
youth:

It may be difficult for young people to trust. Many young people have been disappointed
by previous relationships with adults. It may take a while for the mentees to overcome
hesitance and begin to trust.
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Take the viewpoint that mentoring is giving. Understand that initially the meetings may
be one-directional.

Offer reassurance, support and kindness. Too many young people rarely hear someone
tell them they really care and want to listen with concern.

Suggest ways to solve problems. When possible, approach problems in a positive way by
building on related strengths that the mentees have demonstrated. For example, if
reading is a problem, start by reading about things of interest to the mentee.

Listen without judgment. Try to relate to the student’s personal experiences by giving
examples of your own. Practical suggestions rather than criticism are most helpful. Try to
solve problems together as a group rather than lecturing on what should be done.
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Effective Mentoring Relationships, continued

Help make a connection between their actions today and their dreams of tomorrow. For
example, if a mentee dreams of graduating with classmates, point out how skipping
school will affect the chances of completing school on schedule, if at all. Bring in examples
of others who have struggled that are real to the students, such as local heroes or
community leaders.

Identify the mentee’s interests and take them seriously. Be aware of learning
opportunities and "teachable moments." If a mentee expresses an interest in someone
or something, no matter how slight, take advantage of the situation and encourage the
interest. Over time students may learn to be aware of and creative with their own
potential. For example, if interest is expressed in a local politician, try to arrange to hear
the politician speak or clip news articles about that person for the mentee to read. Think
of ways to transform a casual interest into a learning experience using your energy and
connections.

Avoid immediately asking mentees to discuss personal issues. Delving into a young
person's deep personal or family life, particularly early in the relationship, is usually not
productive. The mentees may be embarrassed in front of their peers, may be ashamed
of a poor school performance, a criminal record or abusive family behavior. These topics
may be appropriate later when trust has been developed in the group. If there is
resistance, do not press; silence does not necessarily mean rejection. It is important not
to measure a relationship's success by the extent of the youth's disclosure.

On the other hand, a mentee may share a great deal without any prompting or inquiry
from you. You may even be hearing more than you want to know at first, especially about
other family members. This is usually true more often with young teens than with midto older adolescents. Try to determine why this information is being given so early and
fully. The mentee may be seeking advice or may just be making conversation. There is
also the possibility that the young person is testing to see if you are "shock proof."

Have realistic expectations. Mentors may be discouraged when the mentee is not
"turning his life around" or making great improvements. Mentors certainly have an
impact on youth, but it is unlikely that he or she will be totally transformed by this
relationship. There are, nonetheless, signs of progress. Adjust expectations and
understand that the mentee may not always express gratitude directly.
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The Role of the Mentee

Attend all one-on-one mentor/mentee meetings for a minimum of 16 hours at the
mentor’s workplace or agreed-upon location between the mentor and mentee. This is
mandatory for graduating seniors seeking a WLF scholarship.

Arrive on time to every commitment including all workshops and mentor meetings. If the
mentee can’t keep a time commitment, she will contact you before the scheduled
meeting to make other arrangements.

The mentee will arrange transportation to and from all mentor meetings and educational
workshops.
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The mentee will adhere to the dress code at your workplace and all educational
workshops.
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Come prepared for all meetings, including bringing a pen and paper to take notes.

Complete the attendance for every event. And, all mentees must enter completed
mentoring hours via our online portal at www.ywldesert.org.
o As noted earlier in this guide, you will approve all hours online. Please contact
[email protected] if you need guidance.

Complete the end-of-year evaluation of the mentor program experience (required for
scholarship or to be considered for next year’s mentoring program).
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Transportation Information
It is the responsibility of mentees to provide their own transportation to and from all YWL events
and to their mentor meetings. As a volunteer, it is important that you maintain that requirement.
If you have a need to drive your mentee home or to an event, WLF requires that the mentee
provide a signed release from their parent or guardian authorizing the mentor to transport their
child. Minimum insurance coverage limits of $100,000/$300,000 are required.
Mentors driving mentees assume the risks associated with their transportation and fully
acknowledge they are doing so of their own accord and not as a requirement of WLF or the
collaborating schools. The mentee will hold WLF and the collaborating schools harmless from
any and all cost, injury or liability incurred as a result of providing transportation.
Scholarship Fundraising
Women Leaders Forum’s Women Who Rule Luncheon is the annual scholarship fundraising event
for our YWL. Last year, we awarded $90,000 (which includes matched funds) to 21 Young Women
Leaders. We welcome your attendance at Women Who Rule (WWR) which will be held end of
January, as well as your participation in our fundraising efforts. Details about WWR can be found
on our website. Watch your inbox for WWR updates from WLF or pledge now at
www.wlfdesert.org and click on “Donate!”
If you know of women who would like to make a difference in a young woman’s life but are
unable to mentor, please have them consider sponsoring a young woman or the YWL
programming at www.wlfdesert.org.
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Icebreaker Questions
1. Foods we like include:
2. A food we dislike is:
3. Movies or TV shows we like include:
4. Places we want to travel to someday are:
5. Time periods from history we find interesting are:
6. A historical figure we wish we could meet is:
7. Some things that make us smile or laugh are:
8. Some things that make us hurt and/or angry are:
9. Something we wish we could change in the world is:
10. Two traits we agree make someone a good friend include:
11. List one or two things about yourself you’d most like to improve.
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Academic Progress and Goal Setting
Discussion of Academics – Continuing to College
Mentor Directions:
Share with your students about your own personal experiences in high school, immediately after
high school, and in college, if applicable. Explain what your academic strengths and weaknesses
were in each walk of life. Feel free to discuss lessons you learned. Did you continue your
education after high school? Why or why not? What factors played in your decision-making? Did
you have a positive experience? Do you have any regrets? If you went to college, did you pursue
a degree? Where did you go? What subject area did you major in? How did postsecondary
education affect your career(s)? What advice can you give based on your own experiences?
Now ask your students to share:
What you are considering doing after graduating? Is college in your plan? Why or why not? Does
a two-year or four-year college appeal to you? Would you like to stay in the Coachella Valley?
Explain. What are some questions you have regarding college/education in general? (If there are
questions you cannot answer, agree to do some research together later and correspond via email.)
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Thank You
On behalf of Women Leaders Forum, thank you for your participation as a mentor in the YWL
One-on-One Mentoring Program. Your involvement has directly impacted a young woman and
has provided her with an opportunity to see what her future career may look like. You will inspire
her to consider endless new possibilities and to feel confident about her future. Your
commitment and compassion is invaluable. Congratulations on making a difference in the life of
a future woman leader.
Sincerely,
Tiffany Dalton, Annie Lofthouse, and Bree Fujio, YWL Co-Chairs
Lisa Jimenez, President
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