MVYLI’s Career Mentoring Program: 2016-2017
The Martha’s Vineyard Youth Leadership Initiative expanded its successful Job Shadow Day Program – to a year-round program: MVYLI’s Career Mentoring Program. During the last six years, MVYLI has matched over 80 Island businesses and professionals with Vineyard youth. This one-day experience is eye opening and life changing (see MVYLI’s Case Study). MVYLI’s Mentor Program gives Vineyard youth ongoing mentorship opportunities. MVYLI’s team hosts weekly workshops to prepare students to maximize these mentoring experiences. As part of their preparation, youth research potential career pathways aligned with their personal and professional dreams. They develop their first bios and headshots to include in their portfolios. MVYLI’s team then matches youth with professionals in the Vineyard community who have jobs/careers in these fields. MVYLI’s program leads to more motivated students; increased support from Islanders and seasonal residents; MVYLI College Field Trips hosts, scholarships, internships and summer jobs. Supporters and sponsors are invited with mentors to Community Recognition Events.
Benefits to the Vineyard Community
- Exposes young minds to inspiring leaders, opens doors and expands their horizons.
- Helps translate youth passion with practical experience in the job market and the world of work.
- Our goal is to give youth a positive experience of the world of work, promote a good work ethic, and develop long-lasting relationships that contribute to the island and global economy.
- Better trained workforce: MVYLI provides training that prepares young people to contribute to the Island’s workforce. The YMCA of MV has hired several MVYLI youth for their summer camps and afternoon programs. MVYLI youth serve as interns at Martha’s Vineyard Community Television documenting town meetings and sports events for the Island community to view.
- Develop New Leadership: The Vineyard has so many wonderful leaders on the island who have over the years directed its future. There is general agreement that now is the time to groom a new generation of leaders that will ensure the Island’s future for generations to come. The Martha’s Vineyard Commission has expressed the need for young people to be involved with the Island Plan 2050.
- Youth receive educational tools and training to prepare them to address key issues and develop projects.
- Youth receive tools to make healthy decisions/choices and build on their strengths, minimize their weaknesses;
- Youth are exposed to inspiring leaders, learn how to develop action plans to implement their vision; troubleshoot challenges, prepare presentations, and develop strategies to engage others in their projects.
- Youth learn to make effective presentations about their experiences and projects and are featured on MVTV;
- Youth are empowered to be representatives of issues and projects affecting their islands;
- Creates a win-win strategy that, by design, teaches collaboration with other non-profit organizations.
- Builds a coalition of youth, business and non-profit organizations working to build a more sustainable island.
- Engages business and non-profit organizations to mentor Vineyard youth, hire and support them.
MVYLI Job Shadow Day Press
- MVYLI holds Job Shadow Day for High School Students: MV Times Feb. 10, 2016
- MV Youth Leadership Initiative pairs high school students with professionals, MV Times, Feb. 12, 2014
- Martha’s Vineyard Regional High School students test-drive careers, MV Times, Feb. 6, 2013
- When Seeing Your Shadow is a Good Thing, Vineyard Gazette, February 17, 2012
- Job Shadow Day Brings Out Some of the Island’s Brightest, MV Patch, February 4, 2012
- Leadership Key Ingredient for Stone Soup, Vineyard Gazette, July 19, 2011
- MVYLI Job Shadow Day Newsletters: 2012 & 2013
- MVYLI Job Shadow Day Video: 2013: http://youtu.be/-SUJ0QwZhhU
MVYLI Job Shadow Day
MVYLI’s mission is to train young people to become leaders in their lives, their community and the world. MVYLI is a project of the Stone Soup Leadership Institute, a 501c3 non-profit organization founded in 1997 on Martha’s Vineyard. The Institute hosts the Cronkite Awards Ceremony to benefit MVYLI. For over a decade, Mr. Cronkite was the Institute’s honorary chairperson. MVYLI’s year round programs include Youth Leadership Summit for Sustainable Development, College Prep, Field Trip & Scholarship Program, Career Mentoring Program (Job Shadow Day) and Special Projects. MVYLI youth served as representatives to the Governor’s Statewide Youth Council: 2010-2015. All Vineyard youth (14-21 years) are able to the attend programs at no charge. MVYLI partners with national organizations:
The National Groundhog Job Shadow Day, a national campaign gives young people a new perspective on their studies through hands-on learning and a one-day mentoring experience. Nationwide, more than one million students and 100,000 businesses participate, 2,000 restaurants and hotels hosted nearly 20,000 students.
During the last four years, MVYLI has matched over 60 Island businesses and professionals with Vineyard youth. This one-day experience has been eye opening and even life changing.
Julia Cooper was curious about the world of sustainable architecture. MVYLI matched her with Ryan Bushey at the South Mountain Company. This one afternoon helped Julia to see that she really wanted a more people-oriented career. For the next year Julia explored the life of a college professor with John Kennedy from LaSalle University of Philadelphia. Julia is now pursuing this career at Colgate University.
Jacob Lawrence first shadowed Brian Billsback at PwC (PricewaterhouseCoopers) in Boston. Then after serving as MC for MVYLI’s Multicultural Assembly at MVRHS, he wanted to explore the world of public relations. Jacob shadowed then Senator John Kerry’s Communications Director, Nicole Caravella who worked in both the public and private sectors. “The day was one that I will remember for a long time,” says Jacob. By discovering his passion before applying to colleges, Jacob focused his application process. He credits MVYLI’s Job Shadow Day with saving he (and his parents) thousands of dollars!
Maisie Jarrell is exploring her options for before applying to colleges next year. She has a wide range of interests – from medicine to the Peace Corps. She is also curious about the world of event planning. For her first mentoring experience she wants to explore the world of event planning. Megan Honey, Special Events Manager at The Harbor View Hotel will mentor Maisie. As part of her learning process, Maisie will assist with the coordination of MVYLI Advisory Council’s November meeting with Island leaders. One of the highlights is a skype video session with MVYLI Alumni Isabella El-Diery, a sophomore at Howard University.
Benjamin Nadelstein is a sophomore at MVRHS who aspires to become a media producer. MVYLI is developing a personalized plan for Ben with a wide range of mentors including musical professor and recording producer, Ed Merck, music recording business technology developer, Norman Hall, video production studio with MVRHS Librarian Kevin McGrath and MVTV. Ben is developing a Job Shadow Day video featuring MVYLI youth and their mentors. MVYLI will feature this on its website, Facebook page, YouTube education channel and on MVTV to inspire more youth and members of the Vineyard community to share their time, talents and resources with our youth. This video will be a tremendous asset to Ben’s portfolio so he can share with college admissions directors and potential employers.
MVYLI College Youth are matched with strategically significant professionals. Isabella El-Deiry was first matched with international human rights activist and author, Rose Styron, then TV journalist and civil rights leader Charlayne Hunter-Gault. She is now an intern with Bob Schieffer at CBS’ Face the Nation while pursuing her college studies at Howard University in Washington D.C. While a freshman at Wellesley College Mary Ollen is volunteering for political campaigns. For her spring semester she serve as an intern at Senator Elizabeth Warren. Lucy Norris, a freshman at St. Louis University in Madrid is matched with business leader David Brush in Spain.