Best of Both Worlds

"SMILES program adds up for pair" - Fall River Herald News article 9/28/08

"SMILES mentor Laurette Shabshelowitz has already raised three college-aged children and she hopes that experience will guide her in her mentoring relationship with 12-year-old Steve M. Correia, a student at the Talbot Middle School. Laurette and Steve have established such a good mentoring relationship this past year, that she is pursuing continuing as his mentor under the “Big Brother, Big Sister” program. “I really like him a lot,” Shabshelowitz said of Steven. “He’s always smiling. He has a good attitude about things. He likes to hang out with his friends like a typical boy. He, like many other middle school students, just needs to put a little more focus on schoolwork.” Shabshelowitz said she has already seen an impact since mentoring him during this past school year. His grades are up in math, but that’s partly because both of them consider math their favorite subject. They also both share a love of animals. She elaborates, “I encourage him to focus on his schoolwork and grades. I tell him how important school is, that education is something he will need for his whole life. I encourage him to stay in school and go to college. Kids his age don’t usually have that on their radar screen.”"
___________

This article was written almost a year ago and Steven and she signed up for the Big Brother, Big Sister (BBBS) program shortly after this article was published. Steven and Lauretter are "Big" and "little" in addition to being SMILES mentor and mentee. Through the BBBS program Laurette has met Steven's father and they explore their love of animals regularly on the weekends. Since Laurette and Steven get to see each other during the school day through SMILES, Laurette gets a handle on what's going on at school with Steven, as well. It's a win-win-win for all involved!


If you have any questions about SMILES Mentoring partnership with Big Brother, Big Sister in New Bedford or Big Friends, Little Friends in Fall River. Please email Marie-Frances at mrivera@smilesmentoring.org.

W-Rapping it up!

No--facilitator Tracy Carriero did not break into a rap song for our mentors these past 2 days. What she did do was set us straight on how to "wrap up" our relationships with our mentees. Whether we are moving onto another SMILES program in the fall, reconnecting with our same mentee in the fall or venturing into a community based mentoring program. We as mentors must always model positive closure.

On the left is Tracy with her infamous quotes used to start and end all of the Mentor Fellowships she has facilitated over the past 3 years.

At this "wrap up" session we were allowed time to reflect on our mentoring relationships. Mentors were given a list of questions to answer (thought they would be helpful to others out there who did not get a chance to attend the session):

1. What was the best part of mentoring for you this year?

2. What is the greatest challenge you faced, and how did you handle it?

3. What did you learn about yourself during this process?

4. What are your mentee's 3 biggest strengths?

5. What wish do you have for your mentee?

6. What would you like to tell your mentee as you wrap up this year's SMILES program? (This could be words of wisdom, or thoughts about your relationship, or something else!)

7. How do you want to proceed with this mentor/mentee relationship?


After we answered these questions we had time to share our answers with our neighbors and ask for advice, if necessary. Feel free to chime in below in the comment boxes and give your responses to any/all of these questions or just contemplate them on your own.

Fun Afternoon at the Zeiterion!

Hi all,

SMILES went on yet another wonderful field trip this past Sunday. Thanks to the SCBA (SouthCoast Business Alliance), the Zeiterion Theatre and Scotty's Limo we were able to bring 9 of our matches to the "Z" in style! Scotty's Limosine provided 2 stretch limos for our matches to chat and relax in before and after going to see "Jungle Jack Hanna". Gomes and Carlos Pacheco mentees and mentors loved the extra pampering! We also took a little detour to Fort Phoenix and did a quick photo op before the show.

Mentors attended on the trip, let me know if you'd like us to send you additional photos.

Gomes and Carlos Pacheco Matches - Big Group Shot at Fort Phoenix

Young ladies from Carlos Pacheco

Outside of the limo in front of Carlos Pacheco--that's what I call stylin'!

Mentoring Night at the Fenway 2009!

Hi all!

SMILES matches had a great time last night watching the Boston Red Sox drive home a 13-3 victory against the Cleveland Indians! Mentors and mentees were all decked out in our Red Sox gear and had a great time bonding with one another. One of our SMILES matches even won a very, special opportunity to yell PLAY BALL to get the game started.

Check out the press we received: CLICK HERE to read the Standard-Times Article

In this instance the pictures are worth more than 1,000 words....

Tyler and Tracy yelling PLAY BALL on the Fenway green!

SMILES matches having fun!

Two Mentors!! Lucky kid!

Awesome pic! Fun times bonding with our mentors and mentees!!

If you came to the game and would like your picture emailed to you, just let us know.

3rd SMILES Annual Meeting

SMILES Mentors, Staff, Board of Directors and volunteers had a wonderful evening at Rachel's Lakeside this past Wednesday, April 29th. We rejoiced in how far we have all come with nearly 700 mentors currently active in our program. This was tempered with the task ahead--which is to ensure that every child in the Southcoast who needs a mentor recieves one. Jim Mathes, SMILES Executive Director, spoke and shared with the nearly 100 people in attendance that our goal is to have 3,000 mentors spending an hour a week with a student in our community and to sustain that over a lengthy period of time.

We also awarded the Craig Lindell Community Service Award to Music Director Dr. David MacKenzie of the New Bedford Symphony Orchestra who among others things has brought wonderful classical music to our children's classrooms every morning through the "Music in the Mornings" program in the New Bedford Public Schools. This program reaches more than 12,000 elementary school students, in 34 schools every day.

It was a great night of celebrating accomplishments and empowering everyone to step forward to help make SMILES goal of 3,000 mentors a reality!

SMILES staff and school liasion at the Annual Meeting

Dr. David MacKenzie - Craig Lindell Community Service 2009 Award Receipent