New Year’s resolutions… did yours include a vow to volunteer? January is National Mentoring Month, a time to celebrate the positive impact mentoring has on children. Come and find out about mentoring a school age child at our free Infosession presented by Talbot Mentor Executive Director Gerson Martinez. We have an immediate need for mentors for students on our waitlist. Current mentors will be on hand to answer questions about mentoring and its many benefits. Be a mentor, be a friend.

Mark your calendar to attend the next Infosession on Wednesday, January 9th, 4:30-5:15 pm at Talbot Mentors office (off Aurora St.), 108 Maryland Ave. Suite #102, Easton; or contact us at: (410) 770-5999 or talbotmentors.org

September.  The weather turns cooler, many activities restart, and school is in session.  Do you recall the new school year expectations bolstered by new shoes, a full box of crayons, and your nametag on a clean desk?  At Talbot Mentors we strive to create positive life experiences and memories for school children.  As school starts generous donors, local merchants, and mentors help us provide shopping trips for children to select basic school supplies to begin the next grade.

Throughout Talbot County, guidance counselors will identify students who would benefit from an adult mentor.  The process can include a referral to Talbot Mentors to match pre-screened and trained mentors with the right child.  Superintendent Kelly Griffin, a Talbot Board member, states that 400 children in the Talbot County Schools could benefit from an adult mentor.  Sadly, there is a shortage of adult volunteers.

As summer turns to fall, do memories of an adult who made a positive impact on you come to mind?

Could you be that person to provide a positive role model for a local child?  Are you willing to spend an hour or two a week with a child who would benefit from some extra adult attention?  Do you have a hobby or an activity that you could share with a child?  Do you like to laugh at being silly, smile when a new skill is learned, or just have a young person by your side for company?

If you answered yes to any of these questions, come and find out about mentoring at our free Infosession presented by Talbot Mentor Executive Director Gerson Martinez.  Current mentors will also be on hand to answer questions about mentoring and its many benefits. Be a mentor, be a friend.

Mark your calendar to attend the next Infosession on September 12^th from 4:30-5:15 pm at Eastern Shore Conservation Center located at 114 S. WASHINGTON ST, EASTON or contact us at (410) 770-5999

This summer, Talbot Mentors (TM) held a successful Science Camp program. Run by Paul Popick, who has over 40 years of engineering experience, this project gave campers an opportunity to spend a week exploring the world of science. This is the third year for the Science Camp and, according to Popick, the most successful.“We had scientists, not teachers,” he emphasized, “doing experiments and talking about their perspective on how it can be used in industry or research.” The volunteers included Lou Cotispodi, Vince Kelly, Bill Bailey, Paul Gilmore, and Joan Muzzillo.

The morning part of the one-week camp was set up to give middle schoolers an opportunity to conduct scientist-led hands-on-experiments which involved robotics, physics, chemistry, and biology. In the afternoon, using scientific methods, they worked on their chosen individual projects(most campers selected the building and programming of a robot). By that Friday, prepared charts and the completed projects were presented to family and friends during the Science Fair. A satisfaction survey conducted after the program ended showed that 100% of the kids gave the science camp a glowing review in quality and that 100% of the scientist volunteers agreed that it was a valuable volunteering opportunity for them.

This is not surprising for Popick who realized when he was growing up that knowledge in math and science was life-changing in that it was a way of securing his future. He hoped to impart the same message to children, especially since “there is a shortage of scientists in this country, as well as a basic literacy in math,”he said. Hearing that the smartest kids in school were being tutored, he set out to teach those who couldn’t afford it and who could benefit from his enthusiasm and commitment to give back to his community. When he met Natalie Costanzo, former Executive Director of Talbot Mentors, she eagerly took him up on his offer and helped to arrange a partnership with the Y for the tutoring. While working with the kids, Popick got inspired to conduct a science fair, and the original one-day presentation, three years ago, evolved into one week.

As for the future, Popick would like to expand the program, bringing it into the schools and other groups. “It’s a great opportunity that I would be happy to help set up.” He’s pleased with the contributions he and others have been able to make and says it’s been rewarding to him in other ways. “I try to make it experiential, not like a regular classroom, and the kids get interested and don’t realize they’re learning something. But I learned lots of stuff too. I also had to build the robot beforehand and had to figure out how to program it and then create the course. I loved doing the other projects, as well.”

Gerson Martinez, Executive Director of TM,is also thrilled with the results: “We are fortunate to be a part of a community with so many talented and generous professionals like the scientists who volunteered their time with us this summer. The program was so successful that we are now exploring additional programming throughout the school year to engage new volunteers with skills to offer and to strengthen mentoring relationships.”

If you have a special talent, or are a culinary professional, creative artist, tutor, translator, etc. and can share your expertise with our mentors and mentees, or if you’d like to explore other volunteer opportunities, please contact Gerson Martinez at [email protected] or by phone at 410-770-5999.

School ends and gleeful students tumble out of school.  After a few days, however, “I’m bored”  becomes a common refrain.  We said it ourselves when we were kids.  Some of us might remember being home alone while the adult(s) in the family were at work.

There are 17 children of all ages in Talbot County who are on the waiting list to be matched with an adult mentor. Many are home most days in the summer while adults work.  Some live with elderly grandparents struggling to raise them, and still others could just use a little extra adult TLC in their lives.

What a great way to relive the fun parts of childhood while giving back to a child!  You won’t say, “I’m bored.” The rewards are endless…smiles, laughter, photos, new experiences, memories, fun!

To find out about mentoring, attend one of the Talbot Mentors Infosessions.  The next  sessions are: July 11 and September 12 @ 4:30 at Eastern Shore Conservation Center, 114 S. Washington St., Easton.

For more information: https://talbotmentors.org/ or (410) 770-5999.

Linda Featherman wanted to enriched a child’s life, to expose them to unknown possibilities and to create hope. Featherman grew up in Oxford, married, raised her family, became a professional interior designer and retired to her hometown. She felt the call to make a difference in the life of a child. She turned to Talbot Mentors whose mission is to help young people in-need or at-risk prepare for success in their personal and professional lives.

In the summer of 2014, Featherman was matched with nine-year-old Alexys. Almost four years later, they’re still together. More than ever, Featherman wants Alexys to “see that there is more to life outside of her own surroundings – to create possibilities and dreams for the future.”  She knows, through her personal experience as a parent, that kids crave parenting and discipline.  “I give her my love in a constant and guiding way.” Featherman has shown Alexys “consistency, encouragement, support, and approval”.

While the typical time commitment of mentors is a couple of hours a week, it is flexible and subject to the relationship and commitments of both mentor and mentee. In Featherman and Alexys’ case, they enjoy being with each other more than that.  “We volunteer weekly at St. Vincent de Paul Charity Thrift Store where Alexys is a cashier.  Through discipline and training she got very good at it! We always have a good time and we make it fun.” In Linda’s mind she hopes kids come to know that many others can have far greater needs.  Alexys also volunteers alongside Featherman at church events.

This past summer, Alexys was given an opportunity for a two-week Pennsylvania camp experience through the Talbot Mentors camp program and a partial scholarship from the camp itself.  Out of her comfort zone and nervous about leaving her mom and siblings, Alexys at first didn’t want to go. However, with the support of her family and Featherman, Alexys went and had a deeply rewarding experience and the hope for returning this summer. Featherman and Alexys see themselves together “for the long haul as a member of my family”.

Talbot Mentors needs you. You can help in many ways:

Become a mentor and change the life of a child.

Donate and help achieve the goal of offering every mentee a camp experience.

Volunteer to teach the children your special talent or hobby.

To learn about Talbot Mentors please attend the monthly information sessions held every second Wednesday, or visit https://talbotmentors.org/, or call 410-770-5999.

When asked what he likes about ice skating, ten-year-old Jacob doesn’t miss a beat. “That I glide,” he says as he skates off to join his buddies on the ice. How about  seven-year-old Aiyonna? “If I fall down, I can get up quickly,” she shares. Between glides, spills come with the territory as just about everyone is finding out. As John says to his mentee, ten-year-old Xavion, “See that? The little girl in the pink sweater who was skating so well. . . all of a sudden—bam, and she’s down.  Even experienced skaters hit the ice.” It’s been 55 years since mentor John has been on the ice. Tonight, the Talbot Mentors goal of expanding horizons is playing out for mentors as well as mentees. A good time is being had by all.

Whenever Talbot Mentors sponsors a special event for mentors and mentees, energy runs high. Lifted spirits are contagious when the bottom line is FUN! At the ice skating party at the  Talbot County Community Center, a group of three dozen mentors and mentees has gathered to lace up skates and take to the ice.

Bre’Asia’s takeaway? “I like it. It’s fun. I want to do it again!” Lori, Bre’Asia’s mentor, explains that the 11-year-old had expressed some concern about getting out on the ice. It would be her first time. “I think having her sister come along helped with her confidence,” Lori says. “Plus Bre’Asia knows so many of the kids here through Talbot Mentors. I was amazed at how quickly she learned and was able to skate by herself.”

And what about mentor Lori, who says she wasn’t sure she’d even “lace up”? “I’m glad I was able to make it around the rink a few times,” she says. “It was exhilarating to be surrounded by so many people smiling and laughing—and it was a good way to get some exercise.: All in all,” she says, “it’s a good, healthy way to spend time together.”

There they go, around the rink. A pack of three Talbot Mentors boys in an impromptu race. A mentor and her mentee gliding together. A pair of girls holding hands. Just off the ice, a group of skaters dig into some French fries. A few feet from the kids, Talbot Mentors Executive Director Gerson Martinez points his camera toward the ice and clicks away as familiar faces come into view.

“I’m thrilled that so many of our mentors took advantage of this great opportunity to spend valuable time with their mentees. With the support of community partners like the Talbot County Community Center, we’re able to sponsor events like these that give many of our mentees a brand new experience, and enable all of us to strengthen the bonds between our mentors and mentees. I’m so excited for an even bigger Ice Skating night next time.” says Martinez.

“We had two mentees, both elementary-school age, talk about how they have never been ice skating before and always wanted to try it,” says Rachel White, the Talbot Mentors staffer who coordinated the skating event. “One was so excited and went out with no hesitation and loved everything about it. The second one was very nervous, so she decided to stand and watch. After a while she was convinced to try it. After one lap around she was smiling–and clearly having the time of her life.” Talbot Mentors paid for skate rentals and the 6:30–8:30 session—for mentees and mentors.

One mentor who had been at last year’s skating event with his mentee said that this is their favorite way to spend time together. “It’s challenging and we have a lot of laughs. It’s a great night out.”

Mentors and staff come away so gratified by the overwhelmingly fearless mentees. New to the ice or experienced, the kids embrace the challenges and forge ahead. There’s nothing better than watching the pairs try skating and to see the smiles as they learn together.

“The faces and sounds of all the children—that’s the best part of it all,” says Bre’Asia’s mentor, Lori.

For more information, to make a contribution, or to volunteer as a mentor, call Talbot Mentors at 410-770-5999, or visit www.talbotmentors.org.

Our next New Mentor Info Session is open to the public and will be held on Monday, February 12^th at 4:30pm at the Eastern Shore Land Conservancy, 114 S Washington St #101, Easton, MD 21601.