Innovative career education programs for Pennsylvania's education and training community
PA eMentoring Makes News in the Pittsburgh Engineer!
Check out this new article on PA eMentoring (page 4) in the Pittsburgh Engineer, which is a publication of the Engineer’s Society of Western Pennsylvania. Click on the link below to view in PDF format: http://www.eswp.com/PDF/PittsburghENGWinter09.pdf
A special thank you goes out to the Engineer’s Society of Western Pennsylvania!
David Mosey, Executive Director on the Lynne Hayes-Freeland Show!
Click on the link below:
Watch David Mosey and Candi Castleberry-Singleton Interviewed 
On January 24, 2010, Smart Futures Executive Director David Mosey and UPMC Center for Inclusion Chief Diversity Officer Candi Castleberry- Singleton took a seat on the Lynne Hayes-Freeland Show to discuss the new UPMC diversity initiative and our PA eMentoring program!
President Obama Celebrates National Mentoring Month
Cick on the link below:
President Obama and Michelle Obama on Mentoring Month
President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama celebrated National Mentoring Month by emphasizing the importance of being a caring adult in the life of a child at an event held at the White House on January 20, 2010.
President Obama issued a call to action for more Americans to mentor, stating that “…if compassionate, committed adults are willing to step up, then think about the incredible impact that we can have. Think about the potential that we will discover, and the talent that we will nurture, and the lives that we can turn around, and the effect that we can have on our schools and our communities and the future of this country. That’s the power of mentoring. That’s the purpose of what all of you are doing across America.”
During his speech, President Obama also recognized the partnership between MENTOR and Viacom Inc., a leading media company. The President applauded their strong commitment to America’s children.
The new partnership between MENTOR and Viacom Inc., is called Get Connected: Be a Mentor, Change a Life. Through Get Connected, Viacom will match its employees with students in New York City, Los Angeles, Washington, D.C., and Nashville. MENTOR will serve as mentoring counsel and guide to ensure Viacom is executing first-rate, quality programming throughout the country and will provide the company and its volunteer employees with state-of-the-art mentoring tools and resources.
‘Burgh Living Blog Features Smart Futures Own Jennifer Lundy!
What area of Pittsburgh do you live?
The Southside
What day is it?
Thursday
Talk to me about your morning routine.
My Day begins around 7:00am. My Alarm goes off and the television goes on! I love to hear the traffic and weather report from the news team on WPXI! I am out the door by 8:30.
Do you commute to work? Do you drive or use public transportation. If this isn’t a work day – what are your plans for the day?
I work downtown so I usually take the bus to work, unless I have a meeting somewhere outside the city.
If you would like to disclose – where do you work? What do you like about your workplace? Is it close to where you live?
I work for an organization called Smart Futures. Our mission is to provide Career Education programs for High School Students across the state of Pennsylvania. We are home of the PA eMentoring program. PA eMentoring provides a rewarding experience for mentors to help high school kids get real about their future: who they are, where they want go, and how they can get there. From stay at home parents, mature college students to corporate workers, mentors volunteer less than 20 minutes a week with a high school student, using a 10 week curriculum that is structured, convenient, easy to use and done completely online. It’s the perfect way for someone with very little time to give back to our community — and its fun! Check us out! www.pa-ementor.org
Now let’s break things down by hour – give a brief update on what you are doing and where you are at the following times:
10am
I am hosting webinars, scheduling school trainings and catching up on email. I am enjoying a cup of coffee from Mocha Marianne’s (412 Wood St.) Great Coffee, Tea and pastries!
12pm
I am thinking about where to eat lunch! So many great place to eat downtown. You can usually find me eating lunch at Madonna’s, Mexico City, Landmark Tavern (1902), Easy Street, Six Penn Kitchen, The Lemon Grass Café or Mandarin Gourmet. If there is time, a stop at Macy’s to check out the shoes!
2pm
My afternoon is filled with staff meetings, strategic planning, school outreach and maybe a walk to Prantl’s Bakery for a cookie or two!
4pm
Wrapping up the day and catching the bus home to the Southside (10 minute commute!)
Talk to me about your plans. Anything exciting planned for this evening? Where are your favorite places in your area to spend a night out?
One of my favorite things to do in Pittsburgh is try new Restaurants and explore the city. My favorite places to eat are 17th Street Café, Café Dujor, La Tavola, Mojo Bistro, Dish Osteria Bar, Mallorca, Little Toyko, Milkshake Factory and Dozen. My favorite places to grab a drink are The Library, The Bar, The Doublewide Grill and Fat Heads.
As for Entertainment, I love the Steelers, the Penguins, the Pirates and the Pitt Panthers. It is fun to check out a game or two each season. I love to go to the movie, I love to shop! My favorite malls are Ross Park and the South Hills Village. I am a member of Phipps , I love the Carnegie Museums, and I enjoy catching a show at the CLO or the Benedum.
During the summer, I love to sit on my deck, BBQ with friends and enjoy the city skyline!
Are you a night owl, or are you early to bed early to rise?
I am an early riser! I love to get up, complete my ‘To Do’ list, and have the rest of the day to explore my city!
What does tomorrow bring?
Friday! A weekend to myself! Maybe a movie, Happy hour, shopping, a new restaurant! Oh the possibilities!
Why Pittsburgh for you?
Pittsburgh is a great city! I moved here from a small rural town about 7 years ago. It finally feels like home. Pittsburgh has so much to offer to a young professional! Cost of living allows you to explore the city and live in great neighborhoods.
UPMC Day of Service Caught on Tape!
Watch these three YoutTube videos from our January 13, 2010 UPMC Day of Service:
Smart Futures and UPMC Day of Service (@ Bidwell Training Center)
Smart Futures and UPMC Day of Service (@ CCAC)
Smart Futures and UPMC Day of Service (@ CCAC 2)
PA eMentoring “Thank Your Mentor Day” Happy Hour!
Friends of PA eMentoring:
January is National Mentoring Month and the 21st is Thank Your Mentor Day. We want to thank all of the eMentors! We are hosting our first ever eMentor Happy Hour and hope that you will be able to attend. The details are below.
Date: January 21st
Time: 5:00- 7:00 p.m.
Location: Engineer’s Society of Western Pennsylvania
Address: 337 Fourth Avenue Pittsburgh, PA 15222
There will be appetizers and the first drink is on us! Feel free to bring a friend, one you think might make a good mentor. If you are not an eMentor, and are interested in the program, stop by to check it out!
Please RSVP no later than January 18th, by emailing Romy Banks at rbanks@smartfutures.org or call at 412-288-3900 ext: 228. Hope to see you there!
Watch Our PA eMentoring skit on YouTube!
Click on the link below to watch our PA eMentoring skit on the Smart Futures YouTube channel!
PA eMentoring Skit (YouTube Video)
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Article on PA eMentoring
UPMC employees partner with online mentoring program
Tuesday January 19, 2010
By Joe Symdo
Gina Monaco long had thought about becoming a mentor, but doubted she had the time and energy to do it.
When University of Pittsburgh Medical Center encouraged employees to begin mentoring high school students by e-mail, she jumped at the chance and quickly was paired with a local high school student interested in psychology.
“I signed up and didn’t give it a second thought,” said Ms. Monaco, who handles insurance reviews at UPMC’s Western Psychiatric Institute and Clinic.
UPMC’s endorsement of PA eMentoring is a big boost to Smart Futures, the Downtown nonprofit group that launched the program last school year. The partnership with UPMC was announced last week.
UPMC has 50,000 employees, giving the mentoring the program the potential to reach thousands of additional students across the state, Smart Futures executive director David Mosey said. Also, because the UPMC work force is so varied, it can offer students guidance on numerous career choices, including the skilled trades and technical fields.
Already, at least 100 UPMC employees have signed up. Ms. Monaco, who has a bachelor’s degree in child development and a master’s in psychology, said the goal with her student will be to “just open her eyes to the possibilities” of a psychology career.
Each week, the student and adult complete an online exercise designed to set the stage for a career-related discussion. Students participate for 10 weeks and finish the program with a personalized college and career plan.
By the end of the school year, Mr. Mosey said, he hopes to have reached more than 1,000 students in dozens of schools across the region. He said he hopes to have about 150 employers in his network by then.
Mr. Mosey said the program helps students understand “who they are, where they’re going and how to get there.” Partly because online mentoring is convenient, many of the mentors stay on for another 10-week cycle with another student.
“You’re talking about two e-mails a week,” Mr. Mosey said.
Smart Futures still is seeking college students, workers and retirees to serve as mentors. Prospective mentors can sign up at www.pa-ementor.org.
Read more: http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/10019/1029242-298.stm?cmpid=news.xml#ixzz0d4blawNM
PA eMentoring and UPMC Day of Service
At CCAC. Left: Romy Banks of Smart Futures, Sumana Misra-Zets of CCAC, Jennifer Lundy of Smart Futures. Back: Rick Adams of CCAC
Wednesday, January 13, UPMC and PA eMentoring teamed up for a Day of Service. UPMC volunteers and Smart Futures staff spent the day recruiting PA eMentors at UPMC Shadyside Hospital, Bidwell Training Center, and Community College of Allegheny County.
We would like to thank everyone at the UPMC Center for Inclusion, Shdayside Hospital, Bidwell Training Center, and Community College of Allegheny County for making this day a success.
Pittsburgh Tribune Review Spotlights UPMC and PA eMentoring
UPMC ENLISTED FOR e-MENTORING EFFORT
By Rick Wills
PITTSBURGH TRIBUNE- REVIEW
Thursday, January 14, 2010
Dave Mosey said he thinks there are more teens in need of mentors than mentors with time.
“Being a face-to-face mentor is often complicated. There are even legal and security issues involved when you are dealing with underage kids,” said Mosey, executive director of SmartFutures, a Downtown nonprofit that runs an online mentoring program.
SmartFutures got a big boost Wednesday, when UPMC — the state’s second largest employer after Wal-Mart — volunteered to promote e-mentoring among its 50,000 employees.
“They have a wonderful program. It’s a great opportunity to engage our professional people with students in the area,” said Dawnita Wilson, chief of staff for UPMC’s Center of Inclusion in Health Care.
The program aims to match thousands of high school students with UPMC employees over the Internet and to help them plan for their future.
Paula Balogh, a nurse practitioner at UPMC’s Hillman Cancer Center, said she finds mentoring rewarding on several levels.
“I can talk to kids through the computer in a very non-threatening way. I feel like I can help students navigate the system and set goals. And I can tell them about how I started out with nothing,” she said.
UPMC also has enlisted the support of partner organizations, including Community College of Allegheny County and Bidwell Training Center to expand the mentor pool.
The effort targets 10th graders, Mosey said.
“That seems like a good age. Senior year is too late to start planning what to do after high school,” he said.
Each student will receive a personalized college and career plan, created with his or her mentor.
SmartFutures, which was founded in 2005, offers several educational and career-related online programs including Keys2Work, PA eMentoring, My Career Journey and Financial Literacy 101.