Through a partnership with Mass Mentoring Partnership, the state affiliate of MENTOR, the Highland Street Corps Ambassadors of Mentoring program was created. The ambassadors, AmeriCorps members, were placed at mentoring programs and youth-serving organizations statewide to help capacity-build in the following program areas: mentoring program development and support; mentor/mentee training; match support; and mentor recruitment/marketing.
Hosting programs benefitted from dedicated members who received intensive professional development trainings to specifically assist mentoring programs. Members received training based on the Elements of Effective Practice in areas such as program development, mentor/mentee training, match support, and marketing and mentor recruitment, along with ongoing technical support. For many organizations, hosting an ambassador proved to be a cost-effective, successful way to serve more youth.
