Exploring Careers Through Mentoring is a program directed by Barbara Passero aimed at introducing young women ages 11 to 14 to diverse career options through mentorship and engaging workshops. The initiative emphasizes the value of mentorship from women of various backgrounds and focuses on empowering girls to explore traditional and nontraditional professions while building self-esteem and confidence. The program employs interactive learning methods tailored to different learning styles, helping participants envision successful futures in various fields.

1. Exploring Careers through Mentoring Sandpiper CREATIVE BARBARA PASSERO, Director 617-484-6961 bpassero @ camkit.info www.camkit.info

2. INTRODUCTION Qualifications p. 1, Hello, my name is Barbara Passero. I’m the creator and director of Exploring Careers through Mentoring education programs, and I’m going to share with you about this program. I’m also the director of Sandpiper Creative, a freelance writing service. My qualifications include a B.A. in English from Hiram College in Ohio and an M.L.S. in Library and Information Science from Simmons College.

3. Qualifications p. 2 Ms. Passero has worked in publications production and information outreach for many years. Some of her past employers are the MIT Sea Grant Program, MIT Research Laboratory of Electronics, Massachusetts Audubon Society, Suffolk University , and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, among others. Since starting Sandpiper Creative in 2000, Ms. Passero has been writing, editing, copyediting, and formatting a wide range of publications for clients from nonprofit organizations and business, and government agencies.

4. Options for Success In our workshops, young women read inspiring, real-life stories of successful working women from diverse ethnic and socioeconomic backgrounds. Our programs offer many options for success: traditional and nontraditional careers with varied educational and training/apprenticeship requirements and time commitments.

5. Mission Statement The mission of the Career and Mentor Kit tm (CAMKit tm ) Programs is to introduce young women ages 11 through 14 to a wide variety of traditional and nontraditional careers that are financially rewarding and personally satisfying. Through innovative and engaging methods and materials, experienced CAMKit teachers encourage young women to discover their skills and interests. Within the context of a supportive team environment, the young women gain insight into how to map their skills and values with various careers. Women from diverse ethnic and socio-economic backgrounds serve as mentors.

6. GOALS To help young women consider financially rewarding and personally satisfying careers so that they can support themselves and their families To increase young women’s personal understanding of success To make young women aware of the importance of math and science for many careers To provide young women with the tools to build self-esteem and self-confidence

7. What’s different about our programs from other career education? Our Programs… provide support for younger students ages 11-14 at a vulnerable time in their lives, especially urban and rural locations help prepare young women to make long-term decisions when they start high school provide a double dose of mentoring through the mentor story card and the workshop leaders promote literacy: communications activities are a big part of every program include levels of careers; many young woman can’t go to college; start at entry level and move up

8. Learning Styles Eric Jensen’s brain-based learning theory: People learn in different ways, so educators have to meet them at this level. Visual/Spatial Auditory Tactile/Kinesthetic plus: Logical Thinkers

9. What Methods Do We Use? Interactive Participatory Individual work Class participation Teamwork

10. Methods After-school workshops, career days, summer and vacation camps, and 9 th grade nontraditional career exploratory courses. Experienced teacher and an assistant lead the workshops, serving as mentors to encourage the young women and promote self-confidence.

11. Methods p. 2 We use role play and a variety of original hands-on, interactive games, puzzles, and activities. We get the girls up and moving after a long day of sitting in school. On the last day of a series of workshops or of a camp, young woman create tangible materials and displays that reflect their experience and knowledge gained.

12. Four Types of Programs Before- and after-school programs Vacation and summer camps Career days 9 th grade nontraditional career exploratory course

13. What are the careers? Youth worker * in process electrical (QA) software consultant Telecommunications Servicewoman *Ultrasound technician Engineer civil, computer, environmental, *Pediatrician Police officer Carpenter *Chef Medical assistant *Auto mechanic Director, non-profit Audiologist Locksmith Accountant (CPA)

14. The Value of Mentors “ Today, more than ever, girls need to be able to envision themselves in a range of professions; without woman mentors, imagining the future becomes much harder to do.” Dr. Kerry Healy, “Women Mentors for the Next Generation.” Belmont Citizens Herald, December 4, 2008.

15. What is a Mentor? The word "mentor" comes from the Greek word for "steadfast" and "enduring." A mentor is a trusted friend and guide (usually someone senior in age with different life experiences). A senior or experienced person in a company or organization who gives guidance and training to a junior colleague.

16. A mentor is a caring, responsible adult … who provides opportunities to learn about people, places, and things outside the young woman’s everyday environment. A positive role model – someone the youth can aspire to be like; someone who can help the youth be whoever he/she wants to be.

17. A mentor is a resilient woman who has faced life’s difficulties. I think it is critical for our young women to have role models of professionals of all types. I believe that Barbara provides real-life people around the Boston area who the young women can easily relate to.

18. A Mentor is Motivation . I hope students will gain motivation from reading my story. I hope that by seeing our very real stories, the young women are inspired to achieve .

19. A Mentor Presents Opportunities Many young girls just dream of getting married and having children. I think Barbara’s program will open up opportunities for girls to get past that and dream about bigger careers for themselves. Kim Reddington Mentor

20. A Mentor is a Role Model I was motivated to be one of Barbara’s mentors because there is an immense need to provide role models of color for all professions. Barbara gives us the opportunity to be that for our young women. Carol Sanchez Sanchez and Santiago, CPA

21. Student Participant Evaluations The Sandpiper Creative workshop [on the engineer and carpenter careers] was my favorite because: “ We got to design a kitchen and do puzzles.” “ It had me consider a few interesting jobs.” “ It was hands-on, and I learned a lot.” “ My dad is a carpenter, and I got to build a kitchen.” “ I like to be creative.” “ I like to design and create interior rooms.” “ I like to work with technology and design.”

22. The Sandpiper Creative workshop [on the physical therapist] was my favorite because: "We did interactive and fun activities." "The lesson was an introduction to physical therapy and skeletons." "I connected to the workshop, and they made it very fun and interesting.“ "We got to dress up like skeletons." "They got you up and moving. It was very interesting." "We got to do a lot of hands-on work, and the teachers were very nice overall. I learned a ton.“ WISE Career Day March 2009 Student Participant Evaluations p. 2

23. How can you help us? p. 23 Contact us for more information. Let others know about us especially middle schools and after-school programs such as boys and girls clubs, YWCAs. etc. Volunteer to be interviewed for a mentor story card Volunteer to be an assistant teacher at a workshop or to help in the office.

24. Copyright © 2009. Barbara Passero CONFIDENTIAL All rights protected world-wide. Exploring Careers through Mentoring BARBARA PASSERO, Director 617-484-6961; b passero @ camkit.info ; w ww.camkit.info For more information, please contact: