MENTOR Virginia

October Public New Mentor Training
2024-10-08 18:00 - 19:00 (America/Detroit)
Register HERE
Are you considering becoming a mentor or getting ready to be a mentor? Take the first step and attend one of MENTOR Virginia’s virtual New Mentor Trainings. Let our trainers prepare you to be the most effective mentor possible. By attending our virtual training, you will learn what to expect from a mentor-mentee relationship and proven strategies for success. At this session, you will be introduced to:

The value of mentoring
Boundaries of a mentoring relationship
The importance of a positive youth development approach
Stages of a mentoring relationship, communication techniques, and problem-solving strategies
Mentor/Mentee Activities

MENTOR Virginia creates a lively atmosphere of learning and engages participants in interactive activities. Our goal is to have a minimum of 8 participants at each training session, so consider bringing a friend, colleague, or sharing this training event with others interested in becoming a mentor.

Register to attend!

September Community Coffee Hour
2024-09-11 09:00 - 10:00 (America/Detroit)
Grab your coffee or tea, and join your mentoring program peers and MENTOR Virginia on Wednesday, Sept. 11th from 9:00 – 10:00 am for Community Coffee Hour. We’ll be joined by Tamice Spencer-Helm from Sub:Culture for a discussion on her new and innovative curriculum, Soulful Mentoring.
MENTOR Virginia will virtually host Community Coffee Hour every 2nd Wednesday of the month with mentoring program staff to create space for peer-to-peer learning and resource sharing, and to address issues you and your organization might be facing during the pandemic and beyond. We hope to see you at an upcoming Community Coffee Hour!
Register to attend!
Meet Our Guest Speakers:
Tamice Spencer-Helms is a published author, speaker, and theoactivist based in Richmond, Virginia, known for their deep commitment to every project they undertake. In 2018, Tamice founded Sub:Culture Inc., an organization dedicated to the holistic support of Black students, providing essential crisis relief and fostering community. Their academic journey includes earning two Master’s degrees in contextual leadership and theology, and they are currently pursuing doctoral studies in social transformation.
With over two decades of experience in youth leadership development, learning facilitation, and university campus work, Tamice continues to advance their passion for theoactivism, philosophy of religion, soulful leadership, and professional development. They are dedicated to creating inclusive learning experiences that uplift learners from all backgrounds. Tamice initiated the Soulful Leadership Project, inspired by their doctoral research on integrated leadership and social change. This research led to the creation of an initiative that embodies the values of authenticity, honesty, vulnerability, curiosity, and confidence in leadership, with the pillars of soulful leadership developed from these insights. Committed to curating dynamic and informative learning environments, Tamice ensures that everyone feels valued and respected. This dedication is evident in the debut of “The Power of Soulful Mentoring” the first curriculums centered around the pillars of soulful leadership.

September Public New Mentor Training
2024-09-10 18:00 - 19:00 (America/Detroit)

Connect | Focus | Grow
2024-08-21 10:00 - 11:30 (America/New_York)
The Connect | Focus | Grow training was developed as part of the National Mentoring Project, a pilot project managed by MENTOR in partnership with the America’s Promise Alliance / Center for Promise and with support from the Schultz Family Foundation. The National Mentoring Project aims to expand the web of quality relationship supports and social capital that younger employees/mentees/interns need to develop the skills necessary to successfully navigate the workplace including securing and sustaining employment. Underlying this training is MENTOR’s guiding vision, which is that all younger employees, mentees, and interns have access to a web of support from caring adults and can form empowering relationships that:

Promote the pursuit of the younger employees/mentees/intern’s passions, skills and interests
Enable younger employees/mentees/interns access to and exploration of spaces where these can be pursued
Help younger employees/mentees/interns overcome personal and/or institutional obstacles

This vision is underpinned by the approach MENTOR uses to help adults and younger employees form relationships, which is grounded in positive development and youth-centrism. This approach:

Recognizes that young people are assets and experts about themselves and their communities
Supports young people in identifying and building strengths
Brings young people and adults together to work as equal partners as appropriate
Builds young people’s connections to their own identity, culture and community helping them to see their own social capital and supporting the extension of social capital through mentoring
Engages young people as leaders on issues that matter to them

Date: August 21st
Time: 10:00am - 11:30pm
Register to attend!
Meet Your Facilitator:
Dwayne Bennett has been with MENTOR Virginia for over a decade, first as a mentor, and now as Lead Trainer and a Technical Assistance Consultant. During this time, Dwayne has personally trained over 4,000 mentors and mentees. Of the over 150 programs that Dwayne has worked with, most recently Dwayne has trained or provided technical assistance to Capital One, Armstrong Leadership Program, VCU’s African American Alumni Council, Micah Association (Richmond Hill), VCU Health Services, Brunswick County High School, Jumpstart Mentoring, Hampton University, and Richmond Public Schools. Dwayne specializes in trauma-informed care, the growth mindset, incorporating a DEI lens to mentoring, critical mentoring, school-based mentoring, leadership development, communication, goal setting, connecting principles, and others. Further, Dwayne has been a featured speaker and panelist for various organizations and educational institutions using his expertise to discuss best practices and building of mentoring programs both domestically and around the globe. Dwayne is the author of two books: From Worry to Winning: The 7 Winning Ways to Your Personal Success and The 7 Winning Ways to College Success: From High School to College.

Hear from Tamice about the Connect | Focus | Grow curriculum

Connect | Focus | Grow (virtual)
2024-08-15 10:00 - 11:30 (America/New_York)
The Connect | Focus | Grow training was developed as part of the National Mentoring Project, a pilot project managed by MENTOR in partnership with the America’s Promise Alliance / Center for Promise and with support from the Schultz Family Foundation. The National Mentoring Project aims to expand the web of quality relationship supports and social capital that younger employees/mentees/interns need to develop the skills necessary to successfully navigate the workplace including securing and sustaining employment.
Underlying this training is MENTOR’s guiding vision, which is that all younger employees, mentees, and interns have access to a web of support from caring adults and can form empowering relationships that:

Promote the pursuit of the younger employees/mentees/intern’s passions, skills and interests
Enable younger employees/mentees/interns access to and exploration of spaces where these can be pursued
Help younger employees/mentees/interns overcome personal and/or institutional obstacles

This vision is underpinned by the approach MENTOR uses to help adults and younger employees form relationships, which is grounded in positive development and youth-centrism. This approach:

Recognizes that young people are assets and experts about themselves and their communities
Supports young people in identifying and building strengths
Brings young people and adults together to work as equal partners as appropriate
Builds young people’s connections to their own identity, culture and community helping them to see their own social capital and supporting the extension of social capital through mentoring
Engages young people as leaders on issues that matter to them

Date: August 15th
Time: 10:00am-11:30am
Register to attend!
Meet Your Facilitator:

Tamice Spencer-Helms is a published author, speaker, and trainer based in Richmond, Virginia. graduated from Virginia Commonwealth University in 2006. She has since been in the non-profit sector, serving thousands of young adults and college students. In addition to her Bachelor’s degree in Religious Studies and Copywriting, Tamice has a Masters of Arts in Contextual Leadership and a Masters of Arts in Theology. She is credentialed in Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, LGBTQ+ gender and sexuality studies.
Tamice is a thought-leader in culturally relevant and critically conscious campus engagement among Black College students. She co-founded an Atlanta-based collective for HBCU campus practitioners and planted six student-led chapters on HBCU campuses in the southeast. She has served as Senior Director of Student Leadership & Engagement at Virginia Union University, where she also taught courses in religious studies. Currently, she trains youth mentors in diversity, equity, and inclusion, and is certified in training related to LGBTQ+ sexuality and gender identity and is a green belt in Lean Six Sigma.
Over the years, Tamice has been a change-maker and pioneer for young people in her community. Throughout her life, Tamice has connected, supported, and ministered to countless young adults. Her friendly and down-to-earth approach to public speaking and teaching, as well as her dedication to research and learning, has helped empower and inspire people in her community and beyond. In 2018 Tamice went on to found Sub:Culture Incorporated, a nonprofit that provides holistic support and crisis relief for Black College Students.
Tamice lives in the East End of Richmond with her partner Ellison and her daughter Harlym. In her free time she enjoys discussing and dissecting hip-hop, reading nonfiction, writing, watching documentaries, singing with her daughter, and eating her partner’s homemade pizza. She released her first book, Faith Unleavened this past year.
Hear from Tamice about the Connect | Focus | Grow curriculum

August Public New Mentor Training
2024-08-13 18:00 - 19:00 (America/Detroit)

Connect | Focus | Grow - Region 8 (in-person mentor session)
2024-08-10 11:00 - 15:00 (America/New_York) | RISE, 1320 Ohio Street, Waynesboro, 22980, United States
The Connect | Focus | Grow training was developed as part of the National Mentoring Project, a pilot project managed by MENTOR in partnership with the America’s Promise Alliance / Center for Promise and with support from the Schultz Family Foundation. The National Mentoring Project aims to expand the web of quality relationship supports and social capital that younger employees/mentees/interns need to develop the skills necessary to successfully navigate the workplace including securing and sustaining employment. Underlying this training is MENTOR’s guiding vision, which is that all younger employees, mentees, and interns have access to a web of support from caring adults and can form empowering relationships that:

Promote the pursuit of the younger employees/mentees/intern’s passions, skills and interests
Enable younger employees/mentees/interns access to and exploration of spaces where these can be pursued
Help younger employees/mentees/interns overcome personal and/or institutional obstacles

This vision is underpinned by the approach MENTOR uses to help adults and younger employees form relationships, which is grounded in positive development and youth-centrism. This approach:

Recognizes that young people are assets and experts about themselves and their communities
Supports young people in identifying and building strengths
Brings young people and adults together to work as equal partners as appropriate
Builds young people’s connections to their own identity, culture and community helping them to see their own social capital and supporting the extension of social capital through mentoring
Engages young people as leaders on issues that matter to them

Date: Saturday, August 10th
Time: 11:00am -3:00pm
Location: RISE, 1320 Ohio Street, Waynesboro, VA, 22980
Register to attend!
Meet Your Facilitator:
Dwayne Bennett has been with MENTOR Virginia for over a decade, first as a mentor, and now as Lead Trainer and a Technical Assistance Consultant. During this time, Dwayne has personally trained over 4,000 mentors and mentees. Of the over 150 programs that Dwayne has worked with, most recently Dwayne has trained or provided technical assistance to Capital One, Armstrong Leadership Program, VCU’s African American Alumni Council, Micah Association (Richmond Hill), VCU Health Services, Brunswick County High School, Jumpstart Mentoring, Hampton University, and Richmond Public Schools. Dwayne specializes in trauma-informed care, the growth mindset, incorporating a DEI lens to mentoring, critical mentoring, school-based mentoring, leadership development, communication, goal setting, connecting principles, and others. Further, Dwayne has been a featured speaker and panelist for various organizations and educational institutions using his expertise to discuss best practices and building of mentoring programs both domestically and around the globe. Dwayne is the author of two books: From Worry to Winning: The 7 Winning Ways to Your Personal Success and The 7 Winning Ways to College Success: From High School to College.

Hear from Tamice about the Connect | Focus | Grow curriculum

Connect | Focus | Grow - Region 7 (virtual)
2024-07-18 11:00 - 12:30 (America/New_York)
The Connect | Focus | Grow training was developed as part of the National Mentoring Project, a pilot project managed by MENTOR in partnership with the America’s Promise Alliance / Center for Promise and with support from the Schultz Family Foundation. The National Mentoring Project aims to expand the web of quality relationship supports and social capital that younger employees/mentees/interns need to develop the skills necessary to successfully navigate the workplace including securing and sustaining employment.
Underlying this training is MENTOR’s guiding vision, which is that all younger employees, mentees, and interns have access to a web of support from caring adults and can form empowering relationships that:

Promote the pursuit of the younger employees/mentees/intern’s passions, skills and interests
Enable younger employees/mentees/interns access to and exploration of spaces where these can be pursued
Help younger employees/mentees/interns overcome personal and/or institutional obstacles

This vision is underpinned by the approach MENTOR uses to help adults and younger employees form relationships, which is grounded in positive development and youth-centrism. This approach:

Recognizes that young people are assets and experts about themselves and their communities
Supports young people in identifying and building strengths
Brings young people and adults together to work as equal partners as appropriate
Builds young people’s connections to their own identity, culture and community helping them to see their own social capital and supporting the extension of social capital through mentoring
Engages young people as leaders on issues that matter to them

Date: Thursday, July 18th
Time: 11:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
Register to attend!
Meet Your Facilitator:

Tamice Spencer-Helms is a published author, speaker, and trainer based in Richmond, Virginia. graduated from Virginia Commonwealth University in 2006. She has since been in the non-profit sector, serving thousands of young adults and college students. In addition to her Bachelor’s degree in Religious Studies and Copywriting, Tamice has a Masters of Arts in Contextual Leadership and a Masters of Arts in Theology. She is credentialed in Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, LGBTQ+ gender and sexuality studies.
Tamice is a thought-leader in culturally relevant and critically conscious campus engagement among Black College students. She co-founded an Atlanta-based collective for HBCU campus practitioners and planted six student-led chapters on HBCU campuses in the southeast. She has served as Senior Director of Student Leadership & Engagement at Virginia Union University, where she also taught courses in religious studies. Currently, she trains youth mentors in diversity, equity, and inclusion, and is certified in training related to LGBTQ+ sexuality and gender identity and is a green belt in Lean Six Sigma.
Over the years, Tamice has been a change-maker and pioneer for young people in her community. Throughout her life, Tamice has connected, supported, and ministered to countless young adults. Her friendly and down-to-earth approach to public speaking and teaching, as well as her dedication to research and learning, has helped empower and inspire people in her community and beyond. In 2018 Tamice went on to found Sub:Culture Incorporated, a nonprofit that provides holistic support and crisis relief for Black College Students.
Tamice lives in the East End of Richmond with her partner Ellison and her daughter Harlym. In her free time she enjoys discussing and dissecting hip-hop, reading nonfiction, writing, watching documentaries, singing with her daughter, and eating her partner’s homemade pizza. She released her first book, Faith Unleavened this past year.
Hear from Tamice about the Connect | Focus | Grow curriculum

July Public New Mentor Training
2024-07-09 18:00 - 19:00 (America/Detroit)

June CMWS: Wellness and Resilience Part 2
2024-06-20 13:00 - 14:30 (America/Detroit)
Join us for a 3-part webinar series that will dive deeper into themes explored at the 2024 National Mentoring Summit. Join thought leaders, practitioners, and mentors alike as we delve into self-care strategies, emotional resilience, and holistic approaches that elevate mentoring practitioners, mentors, and mentees.
Register to attend!

Connect | Focus | Grow - Region 5 (in-person mentor session)
2024-06-18 10:00 - 12:00 (America/New_York) | 4211 Monarch Way, Suite 116 Norfolk, VA 23508
The Connect | Focus | Grow training was developed as part of the National Mentoring Project, a pilot project managed by MENTOR in partnership with the America’s Promise Alliance / Center for Promise and with support from the Schultz Family Foundation. The National Mentoring Project aims to expand the web of quality relationship supports and social capital that younger employees/mentees/interns need to develop the skills necessary to successfully navigate the workplace including securing and sustaining employment.
Underlying this training is MENTOR’s guiding vision, which is that all younger employees, mentees, and interns have access to a web of support from caring adults and can form empowering relationships that:

Promote the pursuit of the younger employees/mentees/intern’s passions, skills and interests
Enable younger employees/mentees/interns access to and exploration of spaces where these can be pursued
Help younger employees/mentees/interns overcome personal and/or institutional obstacles

This vision is underpinned by the approach MENTOR uses to help adults and younger employees form relationships, which is grounded in positive development and youth-centrism. This approach:

Recognizes that young people are assets and experts about themselves and their communities
Supports young people in identifying and building strengths
Brings young people and adults together to work as equal partners as appropriate
Builds young people’s connections to their own identity, culture and community helping them to see their own social capital and supporting the extension of social capital through mentoring
Engages young people as leaders on issues that matter to them

Date: Tuesday, June 18th
Time: 10:00am- 12:00pm
Location: 4211 Monarch Way, Suite 116 Norfolk, VA 23508

Register to attend!
Meet Your Facilitator:

Tamice Spencer-Helms is a published author, speaker, and trainer based in Richmond, Virginia. graduated from Virginia Commonwealth University in 2006. She has since been in the non-profit sector, serving thousands of young adults and college students. In addition to her Bachelor’s degree in Religious Studies and Copywriting, Tamice has a Masters of Arts in Contextual Leadership and a Masters of Arts in Theology. She is credentialed in Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, LGBTQ+ gender and sexuality studies.
Tamice is a thought-leader in culturally relevant and critically conscious campus engagement among Black College students. She co-founded an Atlanta-based collective for HBCU campus practitioners and planted six student-led chapters on HBCU campuses in the southeast. She has served as Senior Director of Student Leadership & Engagement at Virginia Union University, where she also taught courses in religious studies. Currently, she trains youth mentors in diversity, equity, and inclusion, and is certified in training related to LGBTQ+ sexuality and gender identity and is a green belt in Lean Six Sigma.
Over the years, Tamice has been a change-maker and pioneer for young people in her community. Throughout her life, Tamice has connected, supported, and ministered to countless young adults. Her friendly and down-to-earth approach to public speaking and teaching, as well as her dedication to research and learning, has helped empower and inspire people in her community and beyond. In 2018 Tamice went on to found Sub:Culture Incorporated, a nonprofit that provides holistic support and crisis relief for Black College Students.
Tamice lives in the East End of Richmond with her partner Ellison and her daughter Harlym. In her free time she enjoys discussing and dissecting hip-hop, reading nonfiction, writing, watching documentaries, singing with her daughter, and eating her partner’s homemade pizza. She released her first book, Faith Unleavened this past year.
Hear from Tamice about the Connect | Focus | Grow curriculum

June Community Coffee Hour
2024-06-12 09:00 - 10:00 (America/Detroit)
Grab your coffee or tea, and join your mentoring program peers and MENTOR Virginia on Wednesday, April 24th from 9:00 – 10:00 am for Community Coffee Hour. We’ll be joined by Benjamin Blakely and Derrick Veney from The Family One for a discussion on expanding funding and partnerships as a new program.
MENTOR Virginia will virtually host Community Coffee Hour every 2nd Wednesday of the month with mentoring program staff to create space for peer-to-peer learning and resource sharing, and to address issues you and your organization might be facing during the pandemic and beyond. We hope to see you at an upcoming Community Coffee Hour!
Register to attend!
Meet Our Guest Speakers:
With a professional background in telecommunications and real estate, Benjamin leverages professional and life experiences in his youth advocacy approach. Benjamin has shown a continued desire and passion for creating environments and programs to support the local youth. Benjamin’s interests span arts, culture, science, sports and music; however, he is most interested in the betterment of he youth. As a father, a mentor and a basketball coach Benjamin’s focus is on building confidence, self-esteem and critical thinking skills. He works with community groups to create and collaborate on youth gatherings, activities and workshops. His work promotes self-awareness, situational awareness as well as care and contribution for the community.
Derrick A. Veney brings with him a wealth of knowledge and hands-on experience in trauma-informed care for youth. He spent 5 years working with Northeastern Family Institute, Inc., / Grafton Integrated Health Network Counselor/Direct Care Program Staff II. Derrick has the ability to identify and relate to youth in a manner that allows trauma to be addressed and the healing journey to begin. Also a father, coach, and mentor, Derrick is passionate about the eradication of youth food insecurities and homelessness problems within the community.
​

June Public New Mentor Training
2024-06-11 18:00 - 19:00 (America/Detroit)

Connect | Focus | Grow - Region 8 (Mentee Session)
2024-06-06 11:00 - 12:30 (America/New_York)
The Connect | Focus | Grow training was developed as part of the National Mentoring Project, a pilot project managed by MENTOR in partnership with the America’s Promise Alliance / Center for Promise and with support from the Schultz Family Foundation. The National Mentoring Project aims to expand the web of quality relationship supports and social capital that younger employees/mentees/interns need to develop the skills necessary to successfully navigate the workplace including securing and sustaining employment. Underlying this training is MENTOR’s guiding vision, which is that all younger employees, mentees, and interns have access to a web of support from caring adults and can form empowering relationships that:

Promote the pursuit of the younger employees/mentees/intern’s passions, skills and interests
Enable younger employees/mentees/interns access to and exploration of spaces where these can be pursued
Help younger employees/mentees/interns overcome personal and/or institutional obstacles

This vision is underpinned by the approach MENTOR uses to help adults and younger employees form relationships, which is grounded in positive development and youth-centrism. This approach:

Recognizes that young people are assets and experts about themselves and their communities
Supports young people in identifying and building strengths
Brings young people and adults together to work as equal partners as appropriate
Builds young people’s connections to their own identity, culture and community helping them to see their own social capital and supporting the extension of social capital through mentoring
Engages young people as leaders on issues that matter to them

Date: Thursday, June 6th
Time: 11:00pm - 12:30pm
Register to attend!
Meet Your Facilitator:
Dwayne Bennett has been with MENTOR Virginia for over a decade, first as a mentor, and now as Lead Trainer and a Technical Assistance Consultant. During this time, Dwayne has personally trained over 4,000 mentors and mentees. Of the over 150 programs that Dwayne has worked with, most recently Dwayne has trained or provided technical assistance to Capital One, Armstrong Leadership Program, VCU’s African American Alumni Council, Micah Association (Richmond Hill), VCU Health Services, Brunswick County High School, Jumpstart Mentoring, Hampton University, and Richmond Public Schools. Dwayne specializes in trauma-informed care, the growth mindset, incorporating a DEI lens to mentoring, critical mentoring, school-based mentoring, leadership development, communication, goal setting, connecting principles, and others. Further, Dwayne has been a featured speaker and panelist for various organizations and educational institutions using his expertise to discuss best practices and building of mentoring programs both domestically and around the globe. Dwayne is the author of two books: From Worry to Winning: The 7 Winning Ways to Your Personal Success and The 7 Winning Ways to College Success: From High School to College.

Hear from Tamice about the Connect | Focus | Grow curriculum

Connect | Focus | Grow - Region 8 (Mentor Session)
2024-05-30 11:00 - 12:30 (America/New_York)
The Connect | Focus | Grow training was developed as part of the National Mentoring Project, a pilot project managed by MENTOR in partnership with the America’s Promise Alliance / Center for Promise and with support from the Schultz Family Foundation. The National Mentoring Project aims to expand the web of quality relationship supports and social capital that younger employees/mentees/interns need to develop the skills necessary to successfully navigate the workplace including securing and sustaining employment. Underlying this training is MENTOR’s guiding vision, which is that all younger employees, mentees, and interns have access to a web of support from caring adults and can form empowering relationships that:

Promote the pursuit of the younger employees/mentees/intern’s passions, skills and interests
Enable younger employees/mentees/interns access to and exploration of spaces where these can be pursued
Help younger employees/mentees/interns overcome personal and/or institutional obstacles

This vision is underpinned by the approach MENTOR uses to help adults and younger employees form relationships, which is grounded in positive development and youth-centrism. This approach:

Recognizes that young people are assets and experts about themselves and their communities
Supports young people in identifying and building strengths
Brings young people and adults together to work as equal partners as appropriate
Builds young people’s connections to their own identity, culture and community helping them to see their own social capital and supporting the extension of social capital through mentoring
Engages young people as leaders on issues that matter to them

Date: Thursday, May 30th
Time: 11:00pm - 12:30pm
Register to attend!
Meet Your Facilitator:
Dwayne Bennett has been with MENTOR Virginia for over a decade, first as a mentor, and now as Lead Trainer and a Technical Assistance Consultant. During this time, Dwayne has personally trained over 4,000 mentors and mentees. Of the over 150 programs that Dwayne has worked with, most recently Dwayne has trained or provided technical assistance to Capital One, Armstrong Leadership Program, VCU’s African American Alumni Council, Micah Association (Richmond Hill), VCU Health Services, Brunswick County High School, Jumpstart Mentoring, Hampton University, and Richmond Public Schools. Dwayne specializes in trauma-informed care, the growth mindset, incorporating a DEI lens to mentoring, critical mentoring, school-based mentoring, leadership development, communication, goal setting, connecting principles, and others. Further, Dwayne has been a featured speaker and panelist for various organizations and educational institutions using his expertise to discuss best practices and building of mentoring programs both domestically and around the globe. Dwayne is the author of two books: From Worry to Winning: The 7 Winning Ways to Your Personal Success and The 7 Winning Ways to College Success: From High School to College.

Hear from Tamice about the Connect | Focus | Grow curriculum

Connect | Focus | Grow - Region 8 (in-person)
2024-05-29 12:00 - 15:00 (America/New_York) | Project GROWS Farm, 608 Berry Farm Road, Staunton, VA, 24401, United States
The Connect | Focus | Grow training was developed as part of the National Mentoring Project, a pilot project managed by MENTOR in partnership with the America’s Promise Alliance / Center for Promise and with support from the Schultz Family Foundation. The National Mentoring Project aims to expand the web of quality relationship supports and social capital that younger employees/mentees/interns need to develop the skills necessary to successfully navigate the workplace including securing and sustaining employment. Underlying this training is MENTOR’s guiding vision, which is that all younger employees, mentees, and interns have access to a web of support from caring adults and can form empowering relationships that:

Promote the pursuit of the younger employees/mentees/intern’s passions, skills and interests
Enable younger employees/mentees/interns access to and exploration of spaces where these can be pursued
Help younger employees/mentees/interns overcome personal and/or institutional obstacles

This vision is underpinned by the approach MENTOR uses to help adults and younger employees form relationships, which is grounded in positive development and youth-centrism. This approach:

Recognizes that young people are assets and experts about themselves and their communities
Supports young people in identifying and building strengths
Brings young people and adults together to work as equal partners as appropriate
Builds young people’s connections to their own identity, culture and community helping them to see their own social capital and supporting the extension of social capital through mentoring
Engages young people as leaders on issues that matter to them

Date: Wednesday, May 29th
Time: 12:00pm - 3:00pm
Location: Project GROWS Farm: 608 Berry Farm Road, Staunton, VA 24401.
Register to attend!
Meet Your Facilitator:
Dwayne Bennett has been with MENTOR Virginia for over a decade, first as a mentor, and now as Lead Trainer and a Technical Assistance Consultant. During this time, Dwayne has personally trained over 4,000 mentors and mentees. Of the over 150 programs that Dwayne has worked with, most recently Dwayne has trained or provided technical assistance to Capital One, Armstrong Leadership Program, VCU’s African American Alumni Council, Micah Association (Richmond Hill), VCU Health Services, Brunswick County High School, Jumpstart Mentoring, Hampton University, and Richmond Public Schools. Dwayne specializes in trauma-informed care, the growth mindset, incorporating a DEI lens to mentoring, critical mentoring, school-based mentoring, leadership development, communication, goal setting, connecting principles, and others. Further, Dwayne has been a featured speaker and panelist for various organizations and educational institutions using his expertise to discuss best practices and building of mentoring programs both domestically and around the globe. Dwayne is the author of two books: From Worry to Winning: The 7 Winning Ways to Your Personal Success and The 7 Winning Ways to College Success: From High School to College.

Hear from Tamice about the Connect | Focus | Grow curriculum

Connect | Focus | Grow - Region 1 (virtual)
2024-05-28 11:00 - 12:30 (America/New_York)
The Connect | Focus | Grow training was developed as part of the National Mentoring Project, a pilot project managed by MENTOR in partnership with the America’s Promise Alliance / Center for Promise and with support from the Schultz Family Foundation. The National Mentoring Project aims to expand the web of quality relationship supports and social capital that younger employees/mentees/interns need to develop the skills necessary to successfully navigate the workplace including securing and sustaining employment. Underlying this training is MENTOR’s guiding vision, which is that all younger employees, mentees, and interns have access to a web of support from caring adults and can form empowering relationships that:

Promote the pursuit of the younger employees/mentees/intern’s passions, skills and interests
Enable younger employees/mentees/interns access to and exploration of spaces where these can be pursued
Help younger employees/mentees/interns overcome personal and/or institutional obstacles

This vision is underpinned by the approach MENTOR uses to help adults and younger employees form relationships, which is grounded in positive development and youth-centrism. This approach:

Recognizes that young people are assets and experts about themselves and their communities
Supports young people in identifying and building strengths
Brings young people and adults together to work as equal partners as appropriate
Builds young people’s connections to their own identity, culture and community helping them to see their own social capital and supporting the extension of social capital through mentoring
Engages young people as leaders on issues that matter to them

Date: Tuesday, May 28th
Time: 11:00am - 12:30pm
Register to attend!
Meet Your Facilitator:
Dwayne Bennett has been with MENTOR Virginia for over a decade, first as a mentor, and now as Lead Trainer and a Technical Assistance Consultant. During this time, Dwayne has personally trained over 4,000 mentors and mentees. Of the over 150 programs that Dwayne has worked with, most recently Dwayne has trained or provided technical assistance to Capital One, Armstrong Leadership Program, VCU’s African American Alumni Council, Micah Association (Richmond Hill), VCU Health Services, Brunswick County High School, Jumpstart Mentoring, Hampton University, and Richmond Public Schools. Dwayne specializes in trauma-informed care, the growth mindset, incorporating a DEI lens to mentoring, critical mentoring, school-based mentoring, leadership development, communication, goal setting, connecting principles, and others. Further, Dwayne has been a featured speaker and panelist for various organizations and educational institutions using his expertise to discuss best practices and building of mentoring programs both domestically and around the globe. Dwayne is the author of two books: From Worry to Winning: The 7 Winning Ways to Your Personal Success and The 7 Winning Ways to College Success: From High School to College.

Hear from Tamice about the Connect | Focus | Grow curriculum

Connect | Focus | Grow - Region 1 (virtual)
2024-05-20 10:00 - 11:30 (America/New_York)
The Connect | Focus | Grow training was developed as part of the National Mentoring Project, a pilot project managed by MENTOR in partnership with the America’s Promise Alliance / Center for Promise and with support from the Schultz Family Foundation. The National Mentoring Project aims to expand the web of quality relationship supports and social capital that younger employees/mentees/interns need to develop the skills necessary to successfully navigate the workplace including securing and sustaining employment. Underlying this training is MENTOR’s guiding vision, which is that all younger employees, mentees, and interns have access to a web of support from caring adults and can form empowering relationships that:

Promote the pursuit of the younger employees/mentees/intern’s passions, skills and interests
Enable younger employees/mentees/interns access to and exploration of spaces where these can be pursued
Help younger employees/mentees/interns overcome personal and/or institutional obstacles

This vision is underpinned by the approach MENTOR uses to help adults and younger employees form relationships, which is grounded in positive development and youth-centrism. This approach:

Recognizes that young people are assets and experts about themselves and their communities
Supports young people in identifying and building strengths
Brings young people and adults together to work as equal partners as appropriate
Builds young people’s connections to their own identity, culture and community helping them to see their own social capital and supporting the extension of social capital through mentoring
Engages young people as leaders on issues that matter to them

Date: Monday, May 20th
Time: 10:00am - 11:30pm
Register to attend!
Meet Your Facilitator:
Dwayne Bennett has been with MENTOR Virginia for over a decade, first as a mentor, and now as Lead Trainer and a Technical Assistance Consultant. During this time, Dwayne has personally trained over 4,000 mentors and mentees. Of the over 150 programs that Dwayne has worked with, most recently Dwayne has trained or provided technical assistance to Capital One, Armstrong Leadership Program, VCU’s African American Alumni Council, Micah Association (Richmond Hill), VCU Health Services, Brunswick County High School, Jumpstart Mentoring, Hampton University, and Richmond Public Schools. Dwayne specializes in trauma-informed care, the growth mindset, incorporating a DEI lens to mentoring, critical mentoring, school-based mentoring, leadership development, communication, goal setting, connecting principles, and others. Further, Dwayne has been a featured speaker and panelist for various organizations and educational institutions using his expertise to discuss best practices and building of mentoring programs both domestically and around the globe. Dwayne is the author of two books: From Worry to Winning: The 7 Winning Ways to Your Personal Success and The 7 Winning Ways to College Success: From High School to College.

Hear from Tamice about the Connect | Focus | Grow curriculum

Connect | Focus | Grow - Region 5 (virtual)
2024-05-16 09:00 - 10:30 (America/New_York)
The Connect | Focus | Grow training was developed as part of the National Mentoring Project, a pilot project managed by MENTOR in partnership with the America’s Promise Alliance / Center for Promise and with support from the Schultz Family Foundation. The National Mentoring Project aims to expand the web of quality relationship supports and social capital that younger employees/mentees/interns need to develop the skills necessary to successfully navigate the workplace including securing and sustaining employment.
Underlying this training is MENTOR’s guiding vision, which is that all younger employees, mentees, and interns have access to a web of support from caring adults and can form empowering relationships that:

Promote the pursuit of the younger employees/mentees/intern’s passions, skills and interests
Enable younger employees/mentees/interns access to and exploration of spaces where these can be pursued
Help younger employees/mentees/interns overcome personal and/or institutional obstacles

This vision is underpinned by the approach MENTOR uses to help adults and younger employees form relationships, which is grounded in positive development and youth-centrism. This approach:

Recognizes that young people are assets and experts about themselves and their communities
Supports young people in identifying and building strengths
Brings young people and adults together to work as equal partners as appropriate
Builds young people’s connections to their own identity, culture and community helping them to see their own social capital and supporting the extension of social capital through mentoring
Engages young people as leaders on issues that matter to them

Date: Thursday, May 16th
Time: 9:00am-10:30am
Register to attend!
Meet Your Facilitator:

Tamice Spencer-Helms is a published author, speaker, and trainer based in Richmond, Virginia. graduated from Virginia Commonwealth University in 2006. She has since been in the non-profit sector, serving thousands of young adults and college students. In addition to her Bachelor’s degree in Religious Studies and Copywriting, Tamice has a Masters of Arts in Contextual Leadership and a Masters of Arts in Theology. She is credentialed in Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, LGBTQ+ gender and sexuality studies.
Tamice is a thought-leader in culturally relevant and critically conscious campus engagement among Black College students. She co-founded an Atlanta-based collective for HBCU campus practitioners and planted six student-led chapters on HBCU campuses in the southeast. She has served as Senior Director of Student Leadership & Engagement at Virginia Union University, where she also taught courses in religious studies. Currently, she trains youth mentors in diversity, equity, and inclusion, and is certified in training related to LGBTQ+ sexuality and gender identity and is a green belt in Lean Six Sigma.
Over the years, Tamice has been a change-maker and pioneer for young people in her community. Throughout her life, Tamice has connected, supported, and ministered to countless young adults. Her friendly and down-to-earth approach to public speaking and teaching, as well as her dedication to research and learning, has helped empower and inspire people in her community and beyond. In 2018 Tamice went on to found Sub:Culture Incorporated, a nonprofit that provides holistic support and crisis relief for Black College Students.
Tamice lives in the East End of Richmond with her partner Ellison and her daughter Harlym. In her free time she enjoys discussing and dissecting hip-hop, reading nonfiction, writing, watching documentaries, singing with her daughter, and eating her partner’s homemade pizza. She released her first book, Faith Unleavened this past year.
Hear from Tamice about the Connect | Focus | Grow curriculum

May Public New Mentor Training
2024-05-14 18:00 - 19:00 (America/Detroit)

Connect | Focus | Grow - Region 1 (virtual)
2024-05-14 11:00 - 12:30 (America/New_York)
The Connect | Focus | Grow training was developed as part of the National Mentoring Project, a pilot project managed by MENTOR in partnership with the America’s Promise Alliance / Center for Promise and with support from the Schultz Family Foundation. The National Mentoring Project aims to expand the web of quality relationship supports and social capital that younger employees/mentees/interns need to develop the skills necessary to successfully navigate the workplace including securing and sustaining employment. Underlying this training is MENTOR’s guiding vision, which is that all younger employees, mentees, and interns have access to a web of support from caring adults and can form empowering relationships that:

Promote the pursuit of the younger employees/mentees/intern’s passions, skills and interests
Enable younger employees/mentees/interns access to and exploration of spaces where these can be pursued
Help younger employees/mentees/interns overcome personal and/or institutional obstacles

This vision is underpinned by the approach MENTOR uses to help adults and younger employees form relationships, which is grounded in positive development and youth-centrism. This approach:

Recognizes that young people are assets and experts about themselves and their communities
Supports young people in identifying and building strengths
Brings young people and adults together to work as equal partners as appropriate
Builds young people’s connections to their own identity, culture and community helping them to see their own social capital and supporting the extension of social capital through mentoring
Engages young people as leaders on issues that matter to them

Date: Tuesday, May 14th
Time: 11:00pm - 12:30pm
Register to attend!
Meet Your Facilitator:
Dwayne Bennett has been with MENTOR Virginia for over a decade, first as a mentor, and now as Lead Trainer and a Technical Assistance Consultant. During this time, Dwayne has personally trained over 4,000 mentors and mentees. Of the over 150 programs that Dwayne has worked with, most recently Dwayne has trained or provided technical assistance to Capital One, Armstrong Leadership Program, VCU’s African American Alumni Council, Micah Association (Richmond Hill), VCU Health Services, Brunswick County High School, Jumpstart Mentoring, Hampton University, and Richmond Public Schools. Dwayne specializes in trauma-informed care, the growth mindset, incorporating a DEI lens to mentoring, critical mentoring, school-based mentoring, leadership development, communication, goal setting, connecting principles, and others. Further, Dwayne has been a featured speaker and panelist for various organizations and educational institutions using his expertise to discuss best practices and building of mentoring programs both domestically and around the globe. Dwayne is the author of two books: From Worry to Winning: The 7 Winning Ways to Your Personal Success and The 7 Winning Ways to College Success: From High School to College.

Hear from Tamice about the Connect | Focus | Grow curriculum

Connect | Focus | Grow - Region 1 (virtual)
2024-05-08 10:00 - 11:30 (America/New_York)
The Connect | Focus | Grow training was developed as part of the National Mentoring Project, a pilot project managed by MENTOR in partnership with the America’s Promise Alliance / Center for Promise and with support from the Schultz Family Foundation. The National Mentoring Project aims to expand the web of quality relationship supports and social capital that younger employees/mentees/interns need to develop the skills necessary to successfully navigate the workplace including securing and sustaining employment. Underlying this training is MENTOR’s guiding vision, which is that all younger employees, mentees, and interns have access to a web of support from caring adults and can form empowering relationships that:

Promote the pursuit of the younger employees/mentees/intern’s passions, skills and interests
Enable younger employees/mentees/interns access to and exploration of spaces where these can be pursued
Help younger employees/mentees/interns overcome personal and/or institutional obstacles

This vision is underpinned by the approach MENTOR uses to help adults and younger employees form relationships, which is grounded in positive development and youth-centrism. This approach:

Recognizes that young people are assets and experts about themselves and their communities
Supports young people in identifying and building strengths
Brings young people and adults together to work as equal partners as appropriate
Builds young people’s connections to their own identity, culture and community helping them to see their own social capital and supporting the extension of social capital through mentoring
Engages young people as leaders on issues that matter to them

Date: Wednesday, May 8th
Time: 10:00pm - 11:30pm
Register to attend!
Meet Your Facilitator:
Dwayne Bennett has been with MENTOR Virginia for over a decade, first as a mentor, and now as Lead Trainer and a Technical Assistance Consultant. During this time, Dwayne has personally trained over 4,000 mentors and mentees. Of the over 150 programs that Dwayne has worked with, most recently Dwayne has trained or provided technical assistance to Capital One, Armstrong Leadership Program, VCU’s African American Alumni Council, Micah Association (Richmond Hill), VCU Health Services, Brunswick County High School, Jumpstart Mentoring, Hampton University, and Richmond Public Schools. Dwayne specializes in trauma-informed care, the growth mindset, incorporating a DEI lens to mentoring, critical mentoring, school-based mentoring, leadership development, communication, goal setting, connecting principles, and others. Further, Dwayne has been a featured speaker and panelist for various organizations and educational institutions using his expertise to discuss best practices and building of mentoring programs both domestically and around the globe. Dwayne is the author of two books: From Worry to Winning: The 7 Winning Ways to Your Personal Success and The 7 Winning Ways to College Success: From High School to College.

Hear from Tamice about the Connect | Focus | Grow curriculum

Connect | Focus | Grow - Region 1 (virtual)
2024-04-29 10:00 - 11:30 (America/New_York)
The Connect | Focus | Grow training was developed as part of the National Mentoring Project, a pilot project managed by MENTOR in partnership with the America’s Promise Alliance / Center for Promise and with support from the Schultz Family Foundation. The National Mentoring Project aims to expand the web of quality relationship supports and social capital that younger employees/mentees/interns need to develop the skills necessary to successfully navigate the workplace including securing and sustaining employment. Underlying this training is MENTOR’s guiding vision, which is that all younger employees, mentees, and interns have access to a web of support from caring adults and can form empowering relationships that:

Promote the pursuit of the younger employees/mentees/intern’s passions, skills and interests
Enable younger employees/mentees/interns access to and exploration of spaces where these can be pursued
Help younger employees/mentees/interns overcome personal and/or institutional obstacles

This vision is underpinned by the approach MENTOR uses to help adults and younger employees form relationships, which is grounded in positive development and youth-centrism. This approach:

Recognizes that young people are assets and experts about themselves and their communities
Supports young people in identifying and building strengths
Brings young people and adults together to work as equal partners as appropriate
Builds young people’s connections to their own identity, culture and community helping them to see their own social capital and supporting the extension of social capital through mentoring
Engages young people as leaders on issues that matter to them

Date: Monday, April 29th
Time: 10:00pm - 11:30pm
Register to attend!
Meet Your Facilitator:
Dwayne Bennett has been with MENTOR Virginia for over a decade, first as a mentor, and now as Lead Trainer and a Technical Assistance Consultant. During this time, Dwayne has personally trained over 4,000 mentors and mentees. Of the over 150 programs that Dwayne has worked with, most recently Dwayne has trained or provided technical assistance to Capital One, Armstrong Leadership Program, VCU’s African American Alumni Council, Micah Association (Richmond Hill), VCU Health Services, Brunswick County High School, Jumpstart Mentoring, Hampton University, and Richmond Public Schools. Dwayne specializes in trauma-informed care, the growth mindset, incorporating a DEI lens to mentoring, critical mentoring, school-based mentoring, leadership development, communication, goal setting, connecting principles, and others. Further, Dwayne has been a featured speaker and panelist for various organizations and educational institutions using his expertise to discuss best practices and building of mentoring programs both domestically and around the globe. Dwayne is the author of two books: From Worry to Winning: The 7 Winning Ways to Your Personal Success and The 7 Winning Ways to College Success: From High School to College.

Hear from Tamice about the Connect | Focus | Grow curriculum

April Community Coffee Hour
2024-04-24 09:00 - 10:00 (America/Detroit)
Grab your coffee or tea, and join your mentoring program peers and MENTOR Virginia on Wednesday, April 24th from 9:00 – 10:00 am for Community Coffee Hour. We’ll be joined by Reshaud Rich of Partnership for the Future and Tamice Spencer-Helms of Sub:Culture for a discussion on college readiness for students.
MENTOR Virginia will virtually host Community Coffee Hour every 2nd Wednesday of the month with mentoring program staff to create space for peer-to-peer learning and resource sharing, and to address issues you and your organization might be facing during the pandemic and beyond. We hope to see you at an upcoming Community Coffee Hour!
Register to attend!
Meet Our Guest Speakers:
Reshaud Rich is the Senior Director of Programs at Partnership for the Future. His professional experience in college access includes several years with GEAR UP Virginia at the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia, three summers as an Upward Bound Peer-Tutor Counselor and two years with the Virginia College Advising Corps.
Reshaud is now responsible for leading initiatives that support high achieving, low to moderate income high school students to secure full-ride, merit scholarships in an effort to decrease the wealth gap. Reshaud’s interests include independently publishing books that promote continuous learning and intellectual growth among those that devalue a post-secondary education. As a high school student, Reshaud was a recipient of ACCESS College Foundation’s services and a student of his local Upward Bound. Reshaud earned a bachelor’s degree in sociology from the University of Virginia, a post-baccalaureate in business administration from Virginia Commonwealth University, and a master’s in educational leadership and foundations from Old Dominion University.
Tamice Spencer-Helms, the founder and CEO, is a visionary leader committed to serving young adults. A graduate of Virginia Commonwealth University in 2006, she has dedicated her career to connecting with Black college students through culturally relevant programs. Together with other innovators, she co-founded the Atlanta-based Kingdom Collaborative, bringing together HBCU campus practitioners and establishing six student-led chapters.
In her role as the Senior Director of Student Leadership & Engagement at Virginia Union University, Tamice taught religious studies and was instrumental in creating the Panther Food Pantry. At MENTOR Virginia, she wears the hat of Learning Facilitator and Curriculum Developer. There, she is pivotal in training youth mentors on diversity, equity, access, and inclusion. Additionally, she serves as the lead trainer for Relationship Centered Schools initiatives in Newport News Public Schools and spearheaded workplace development training with the State Council for Higher Education in Virginia (SCHEV).
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Connect | Focus | Grow - Region 1 (virtual)
2024-04-23 10:00 - 11:30 (America/New_York)
The Connect | Focus | Grow training was developed as part of the National Mentoring Project, a pilot project managed by MENTOR in partnership with the America’s Promise Alliance / Center for Promise and with support from the Schultz Family Foundation. The National Mentoring Project aims to expand the web of quality relationship supports and social capital that younger employees/mentees/interns need to develop the skills necessary to successfully navigate the workplace including securing and sustaining employment. Underlying this training is MENTOR’s guiding vision, which is that all younger employees, mentees, and interns have access to a web of support from caring adults and can form empowering relationships that:

Promote the pursuit of the younger employees/mentees/intern’s passions, skills and interests
Enable younger employees/mentees/interns access to and exploration of spaces where these can be pursued
Help younger employees/mentees/interns overcome personal and/or institutional obstacles

This vision is underpinned by the approach MENTOR uses to help adults and younger employees form relationships, which is grounded in positive development and youth-centrism. This approach:

Recognizes that young people are assets and experts about themselves and their communities
Supports young people in identifying and building strengths
Brings young people and adults together to work as equal partners as appropriate
Builds young people’s connections to their own identity, culture and community helping them to see their own social capital and supporting the extension of social capital through mentoring
Engages young people as leaders on issues that matter to them

Date: Tuesday, April 23rd
Time: 10:00pm - 11:30pm
Register to attend!
Meet Your Facilitator:
Dwayne Bennett has been with MENTOR Virginia for over a decade, first as a mentor, and now as Lead Trainer and a Technical Assistance Consultant. During this time, Dwayne has personally trained over 4,000 mentors and mentees. Of the over 150 programs that Dwayne has worked with, most recently Dwayne has trained or provided technical assistance to Capital One, Armstrong Leadership Program, VCU’s African American Alumni Council, Micah Association (Richmond Hill), VCU Health Services, Brunswick County High School, Jumpstart Mentoring, Hampton University, and Richmond Public Schools. Dwayne specializes in trauma-informed care, the growth mindset, incorporating a DEI lens to mentoring, critical mentoring, school-based mentoring, leadership development, communication, goal setting, connecting principles, and others. Further, Dwayne has been a featured speaker and panelist for various organizations and educational institutions using his expertise to discuss best practices and building of mentoring programs both domestically and around the globe. Dwayne is the author of two books: From Worry to Winning: The 7 Winning Ways to Your Personal Success and The 7 Winning Ways to College Success: From High School to College.

Hear from Tamice about the Connect | Focus | Grow curriculum

Connect | Focus | Grow - Region 1 (virtual)
2024-04-18 11:00 - 12:30 (America/New_York)
The Connect | Focus | Grow training was developed as part of the National Mentoring Project, a pilot project managed by MENTOR in partnership with the America’s Promise Alliance / Center for Promise and with support from the Schultz Family Foundation. The National Mentoring Project aims to expand the web of quality relationship supports and social capital that younger employees/mentees/interns need to develop the skills necessary to successfully navigate the workplace including securing and sustaining employment. Underlying this training is MENTOR’s guiding vision, which is that all younger employees, mentees, and interns have access to a web of support from caring adults and can form empowering relationships that:

Promote the pursuit of the younger employees/mentees/intern’s passions, skills and interests
Enable younger employees/mentees/interns access to and exploration of spaces where these can be pursued
Help younger employees/mentees/interns overcome personal and/or institutional obstacles

This vision is underpinned by the approach MENTOR uses to help adults and younger employees form relationships, which is grounded in positive development and youth-centrism. This approach:

Recognizes that young people are assets and experts about themselves and their communities
Supports young people in identifying and building strengths
Brings young people and adults together to work as equal partners as appropriate
Builds young people’s connections to their own identity, culture and community helping them to see their own social capital and supporting the extension of social capital through mentoring
Engages young people as leaders on issues that matter to them

Date: Thursday, April 18th
Time: 11:00pm - 12:30pm
Register to attend!
Meet Your Facilitator:
Dwayne Bennett has been with MENTOR Virginia for over a decade, first as a mentor, and now as Lead Trainer and a Technical Assistance Consultant. During this time, Dwayne has personally trained over 4,000 mentors and mentees. Of the over 150 programs that Dwayne has worked with, most recently Dwayne has trained or provided technical assistance to Capital One, Armstrong Leadership Program, VCU’s African American Alumni Council, Micah Association (Richmond Hill), VCU Health Services, Brunswick County High School, Jumpstart Mentoring, Hampton University, and Richmond Public Schools. Dwayne specializes in trauma-informed care, the growth mindset, incorporating a DEI lens to mentoring, critical mentoring, school-based mentoring, leadership development, communication, goal setting, connecting principles, and others. Further, Dwayne has been a featured speaker and panelist for various organizations and educational institutions using his expertise to discuss best practices and building of mentoring programs both domestically and around the globe. Dwayne is the author of two books: From Worry to Winning: The 7 Winning Ways to Your Personal Success and The 7 Winning Ways to College Success: From High School to College.

Hear from Tamice about the Connect | Focus | Grow curriculum

Connect | Focus | Grow - Region 7 (virtual)
2024-04-18 10:00 - 11:30 (America/New_York)
The Connect | Focus | Grow training was developed as part of the National Mentoring Project, a pilot project managed by MENTOR in partnership with the America’s Promise Alliance / Center for Promise and with support from the Schultz Family Foundation. The National Mentoring Project aims to expand the web of quality relationship supports and social capital that younger employees/mentees/interns need to develop the skills necessary to successfully navigate the workplace including securing and sustaining employment.
Underlying this training is MENTOR’s guiding vision, which is that all younger employees, mentees, and interns have access to a web of support from caring adults and can form empowering relationships that:

Promote the pursuit of the younger employees/mentees/intern’s passions, skills and interests
Enable younger employees/mentees/interns access to and exploration of spaces where these can be pursued
Help younger employees/mentees/interns overcome personal and/or institutional obstacles

This vision is underpinned by the approach MENTOR uses to help adults and younger employees form relationships, which is grounded in positive development and youth-centrism. This approach:

Recognizes that young people are assets and experts about themselves and their communities
Supports young people in identifying and building strengths
Brings young people and adults together to work as equal partners as appropriate
Builds young people’s connections to their own identity, culture and community helping them to see their own social capital and supporting the extension of social capital through mentoring
Engages young people as leaders on issues that matter to them

Date: Thursday, April 18th
Time: 10:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.
Register to attend!
Meet Your Facilitator:

Tamice Spencer-Helms is a published author, speaker, and trainer based in Richmond, Virginia. graduated from Virginia Commonwealth University in 2006. She has since been in the non-profit sector, serving thousands of young adults and college students. In addition to her Bachelor’s degree in Religious Studies and Copywriting, Tamice has a Masters of Arts in Contextual Leadership and a Masters of Arts in Theology. She is credentialed in Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, LGBTQ+ gender and sexuality studies.
Tamice is a thought-leader in culturally relevant and critically conscious campus engagement among Black College students. She co-founded an Atlanta-based collective for HBCU campus practitioners and planted six student-led chapters on HBCU campuses in the southeast. She has served as Senior Director of Student Leadership & Engagement at Virginia Union University, where she also taught courses in religious studies. Currently, she trains youth mentors in diversity, equity, and inclusion, and is certified in training related to LGBTQ+ sexuality and gender identity and is a green belt in Lean Six Sigma.
Over the years, Tamice has been a change-maker and pioneer for young people in her community. Throughout her life, Tamice has connected, supported, and ministered to countless young adults. Her friendly and down-to-earth approach to public speaking and teaching, as well as her dedication to research and learning, has helped empower and inspire people in her community and beyond. In 2018 Tamice went on to found Sub:Culture Incorporated, a nonprofit that provides holistic support and crisis relief for Black College Students.
Tamice lives in the East End of Richmond with her partner Ellison and her daughter Harlym. In her free time she enjoys discussing and dissecting hip-hop, reading nonfiction, writing, watching documentaries, singing with her daughter, and eating her partner’s homemade pizza. She released her first book, Faith Unleavened this past year.
Hear from Tamice about the Connect | Focus | Grow curriculum

Connect | Focus | Grow - Region 4 (In-Person Mentor Training)
2024-04-17 11:00 - 13:30 (America/New_York) | 7325 Beaufont Springs Drive Richmond, VA 23225, VITA Training Room, 7325 Beaufont Springs Drive, Richmond, VA, 23225, United States
The Connect | Focus | Grow training was developed as part of the National Mentoring Project, a pilot project managed by MENTOR in partnership with the America’s Promise Alliance / Center for Promise and with support from the Schultz Family Foundation. The National Mentoring Project aims to expand the web of quality relationship supports and social capital that younger employees/mentees/interns need to develop the skills necessary to successfully navigate the workplace including securing and sustaining employment.
Underlying this training is MENTOR’s guiding vision, which is that all younger employees, mentees, and interns have access to a web of support from caring adults and can form empowering relationships that:

Promote the pursuit of the younger employees/mentees/intern’s passions, skills and interests
Enable younger employees/mentees/interns access to and exploration of spaces where these can be pursued
Help younger employees/mentees/interns overcome personal and/or institutional obstacles

This vision is underpinned by the approach MENTOR uses to help adults and younger employees form relationships, which is grounded in positive development and youth-centrism. This approach:

Recognizes that young people are assets and experts about themselves and their communities
Supports young people in identifying and building strengths
Brings young people and adults together to work as equal partners as appropriate
Builds young people’s connections to their own identity, culture and community helping them to see their own social capital and supporting the extension of social capital through mentoring
Engages young people as leaders on issues that matter to them

Date: Wednesday, April 17th
Time: 11:00am-1:30pm
Location: 7325 Beaufont Springs Drive Richmond, VA 23225, VITA Training Room
Register to attend!
Meet Your Facilitator:

Tamice Spencer-Helms is a published author, speaker, and trainer based in Richmond, Virginia. graduated from Virginia Commonwealth University in 2006. She has since been in the non-profit sector, serving thousands of young adults and college students. In addition to her Bachelor’s degree in Religious Studies and Copywriting, Tamice has a Masters of Arts in Contextual Leadership and a Masters of Arts in Theology. She is credentialed in Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, LGBTQ+ gender and sexuality studies.
Tamice is a thought-leader in culturally relevant and critically conscious campus engagement among Black College students. She co-founded an Atlanta-based collective for HBCU campus practitioners and planted six student-led chapters on HBCU campuses in the southeast. She has served as Senior Director of Student Leadership & Engagement at Virginia Union University, where she also taught courses in religious studies. Currently, she trains youth mentors in diversity, equity, and inclusion, and is certified in training related to LGBTQ+ sexuality and gender identity and is a green belt in Lean Six Sigma.
Over the years, Tamice has been a change-maker and pioneer for young people in her community. Throughout her life, Tamice has connected, supported, and ministered to countless young adults. Her friendly and down-to-earth approach to public speaking and teaching, as well as her dedication to research and learning, has helped empower and inspire people in her community and beyond. In 2018 Tamice went on to found Sub:Culture Incorporated, a nonprofit that provides holistic support and crisis relief for Black College Students.
Tamice lives in the East End of Richmond with her partner Ellison and her daughter Harlym. In her free time she enjoys discussing and dissecting hip-hop, reading nonfiction, writing, watching documentaries, singing with her daughter, and eating her partner’s homemade pizza. She released her first book, Faith Unleavened this past year.
Hear from Tamice about the Connect | Focus | Grow curriculum

Connect | Focus | Grow - Region 7 (virtual)
2024-04-17 10:00 - 11:30 (America/New_York)
The Connect | Focus | Grow training was developed as part of the National Mentoring Project, a pilot project managed by MENTOR in partnership with the America’s Promise Alliance / Center for Promise and with support from the Schultz Family Foundation. The National Mentoring Project aims to expand the web of quality relationship supports and social capital that younger employees/mentees/interns need to develop the skills necessary to successfully navigate the workplace including securing and sustaining employment.
Underlying this training is MENTOR’s guiding vision, which is that all younger employees, mentees, and interns have access to a web of support from caring adults and can form empowering relationships that:

Promote the pursuit of the younger employees/mentees/intern’s passions, skills and interests
Enable younger employees/mentees/interns access to and exploration of spaces where these can be pursued
Help younger employees/mentees/interns overcome personal and/or institutional obstacles

This vision is underpinned by the approach MENTOR uses to help adults and younger employees form relationships, which is grounded in positive development and youth-centrism. This approach:

Recognizes that young people are assets and experts about themselves and their communities
Supports young people in identifying and building strengths
Brings young people and adults together to work as equal partners as appropriate
Builds young people’s connections to their own identity, culture and community helping them to see their own social capital and supporting the extension of social capital through mentoring
Engages young people as leaders on issues that matter to them

Date: Wednesday, April 17th
Time: 10:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.
Register to attend!
Meet Your Facilitator:

Tamice Spencer-Helms is a published author, speaker, and trainer based in Richmond, Virginia. graduated from Virginia Commonwealth University in 2006. She has since been in the non-profit sector, serving thousands of young adults and college students. In addition to her Bachelor’s degree in Religious Studies and Copywriting, Tamice has a Masters of Arts in Contextual Leadership and a Masters of Arts in Theology. She is credentialed in Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, LGBTQ+ gender and sexuality studies.
Tamice is a thought-leader in culturally relevant and critically conscious campus engagement among Black College students. She co-founded an Atlanta-based collective for HBCU campus practitioners and planted six student-led chapters on HBCU campuses in the southeast. She has served as Senior Director of Student Leadership & Engagement at Virginia Union University, where she also taught courses in religious studies. Currently, she trains youth mentors in diversity, equity, and inclusion, and is certified in training related to LGBTQ+ sexuality and gender identity and is a green belt in Lean Six Sigma.
Over the years, Tamice has been a change-maker and pioneer for young people in her community. Throughout her life, Tamice has connected, supported, and ministered to countless young adults. Her friendly and down-to-earth approach to public speaking and teaching, as well as her dedication to research and learning, has helped empower and inspire people in her community and beyond. In 2018 Tamice went on to found Sub:Culture Incorporated, a nonprofit that provides holistic support and crisis relief for Black College Students.
Tamice lives in the East End of Richmond with her partner Ellison and her daughter Harlym. In her free time she enjoys discussing and dissecting hip-hop, reading nonfiction, writing, watching documentaries, singing with her daughter, and eating her partner’s homemade pizza. She released her first book, Faith Unleavened this past year.
Hear from Tamice about the Connect | Focus | Grow curriculum

Connect | Focus | Grow - Region 7 (virtual)
2024-04-16 10:00 - 11:30 (America/New_York)
The Connect | Focus | Grow training was developed as part of the National Mentoring Project, a pilot project managed by MENTOR in partnership with the America’s Promise Alliance / Center for Promise and with support from the Schultz Family Foundation. The National Mentoring Project aims to expand the web of quality relationship supports and social capital that younger employees/mentees/interns need to develop the skills necessary to successfully navigate the workplace including securing and sustaining employment.
Underlying this training is MENTOR’s guiding vision, which is that all younger employees, mentees, and interns have access to a web of support from caring adults and can form empowering relationships that:

Promote the pursuit of the younger employees/mentees/intern’s passions, skills and interests
Enable younger employees/mentees/interns access to and exploration of spaces where these can be pursued
Help younger employees/mentees/interns overcome personal and/or institutional obstacles

This vision is underpinned by the approach MENTOR uses to help adults and younger employees form relationships, which is grounded in positive development and youth-centrism. This approach:

Recognizes that young people are assets and experts about themselves and their communities
Supports young people in identifying and building strengths
Brings young people and adults together to work as equal partners as appropriate
Builds young people’s connections to their own identity, culture and community helping them to see their own social capital and supporting the extension of social capital through mentoring
Engages young people as leaders on issues that matter to them

Date: Tuesday, April 16th
Time: 10:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.
Register to attend!
Meet Your Facilitator:

Tamice Spencer-Helms is a published author, speaker, and trainer based in Richmond, Virginia. graduated from Virginia Commonwealth University in 2006. She has since been in the non-profit sector, serving thousands of young adults and college students. In addition to her Bachelor’s degree in Religious Studies and Copywriting, Tamice has a Masters of Arts in Contextual Leadership and a Masters of Arts in Theology. She is credentialed in Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, LGBTQ+ gender and sexuality studies.
Tamice is a thought-leader in culturally relevant and critically conscious campus engagement among Black College students. She co-founded an Atlanta-based collective for HBCU campus practitioners and planted six student-led chapters on HBCU campuses in the southeast. She has served as Senior Director of Student Leadership & Engagement at Virginia Union University, where she also taught courses in religious studies. Currently, she trains youth mentors in diversity, equity, and inclusion, and is certified in training related to LGBTQ+ sexuality and gender identity and is a green belt in Lean Six Sigma.
Over the years, Tamice has been a change-maker and pioneer for young people in her community. Throughout her life, Tamice has connected, supported, and ministered to countless young adults. Her friendly and down-to-earth approach to public speaking and teaching, as well as her dedication to research and learning, has helped empower and inspire people in her community and beyond. In 2018 Tamice went on to found Sub:Culture Incorporated, a nonprofit that provides holistic support and crisis relief for Black College Students.
Tamice lives in the East End of Richmond with her partner Ellison and her daughter Harlym. In her free time she enjoys discussing and dissecting hip-hop, reading nonfiction, writing, watching documentaries, singing with her daughter, and eating her partner’s homemade pizza. She released her first book, Faith Unleavened this past year.
Hear from Tamice about the Connect | Focus | Grow curriculum
