Cohousing-L Mailing List: Re: child/adult mentor program?

[KJ (pumpkin2282]

I had never heard of this. Looks neat! 

Sent from my iPad

On Nov 18, 2013, at 1:52 AM, Rick Gravrok <rick.gravrok [at] gmail.com> wrote:

> 
> Hello, do you all know about Generations of Hope?  www.generationsofhope.org
> 
> Rick Gravrok
> Monterey Cohousing Community, Minnesota
> 
> 
> On Sun, Nov 17, 2013 at 9:11 PM, Joey Kimdon <jkimdon [at] gmail.com> wrote:
> 
>> 
>> Many kids are interested in the vague idea. It remains to be seen how
>> reality will pan out though. :-)
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> On Sun, Nov 17, 2013 at 2:43 PM, Diana Carroll <dianaecarroll [at] gmail.com
>>> wrote:
>> 
>>> Have the kids expressed interest in this?
>>> 
>>> 
>>> On Sat, Nov 16, 2013 at 6:59 PM, Joey Kimdon <jkimdon [at] gmail.com> wrote:
>>> 
>>>> 
>>>> Hi all,
>>>> 
>>>> Several of us in our community would like to establish a child/adult
>>>> mentor
>>>> program, and we were wondering if any other communities would be willing
>>>> to
>>>> share their experiences.
>>>> 
>>>> One of our main goals is to deepen the connections between children and
>>>> adults who are not their parents. We're hoping these special connections
>>>> will give the kids many people they're comfortable talking to as they
>> are
>>>> going through life's challenges, as well as enrich both parties' lives
>> as
>>>> they share their special talents, interests, and personalities. We also
>>>> see
>>>> it as a way to keep the kids connected to and interested in the
>> community
>>>> as they grow older.
>>>> 
>>>> We already have many rich child/adult interactions, informal activities,
>>>> special friendships, and a kids club where adults can share activities
>>>> with
>>>> the kids. However, we're looking to have a more formal program in order
>> to
>>>> include more of the less-outgoing people, to encourage more one-on-one
>>>> time, to help people find ways to fit this type of connection into their
>>>> schedules, and to give an almost family/grandparent-type of commitment
>>>> that
>>>> the kids (and adults) can count on over many many years.
>>>> 
>>>> Our current thoughts are to have some rotating one-on-one mentorships
>>>> (maybe 6 months long?) starting as soon as the kids are interested and
>>>> continuing until adulthood, fostering many different relationships. Then
>>>> in
>>>> addition, as part of a coming-of-age ritual (around 12 yrs old), having
>>>> the
>>>> child and an adult find each other for an enduring (non-rotating),
>> deeper
>>>> mentorship. The shorter mentorships could help the children and adults
>>>> figure out who they want for their long mentor and could continue even
>>>> during the longer mentorship.
>>>> 
>>>> Does anyone have any experiences they'd like to share that could help us
>>>> as
>>>> we are developing this idea? Or can you point me to some archived
>> posts? I
>>>> did a quick search in the archives, but didn't find the right search
>> terms
>>>> to come up with anything.
>>>> 
>>>> Thanks,
>>>> Joey
>>>> (from CoHo Ecovillage in Corvallis, OR)
>>>> _________________________________________________________________
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> 
> 
> -- 
> Rick Gravrok
> St. Louis Park, MN
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>