Adult Mentors

This program includes mentoring and presenting to middle and high school classrooms on the issues of dating abuse, sexual harassment, and sexual assault in the Boulder Valley School District. In addition to mentoring/presenting, adult mentors will lead a project committee as well as facilitate a download group for a small group of peer educators.

The program also delves into learning about and challenging interpersonal violence in all of its forms including activism on social justice issues including: racism, sexism, heterosexism, ageism, classism, and ableism. We encourage adults over 18 years of age and of all diverse backgrounds to apply. If you are an adult who is interested in working with teens and becoming an adult mentor for this program, please contact Teresa Hernandez (teresa@safehousealliance.org), (303) 449-8623 or Davian Gagne (davian@movingtoendsexualassault.org), (303) 443-0400 x105 for application information.

Volunteer job description:

Program Summary:
Volunteering as a mentor for Peers Building Justice includes: presentations/mentoring to middle and high school classrooms on the issues of dating abuse, sexual harassment, and sexual assault, facilitating discussion with small groups of teens, keeping in regular contact with your group of Peer Educators, organizing and hosting youth social justice seminars; and facilitating Peer Education projects (as decided by the youth). The program also delves into learning about and challenging interpersonal violence in all of its forms including activism on social justice issues such as: racism, sexism, heterosexism, ageism, classism, and ableism.

Responsible to:

• Youth Educator and Organizer @ Safehouse Progressive Alliance for Nonviolence
• Prevention Education Program Coordinator @ MESA-Moving to End Sexual Assault

[The Peer Education Program is a collaborative effort between these agencies.]

Purpose:

Be a consistent and reliable member of the Peer Education Team by supporting teen Peer Educators in social action work for the prevention of interpersonal violence in our community.

Duties:

• Commit to being a Mentor for at least one school year
• Have availability during school hours to present/mentor in classrooms
• Participate in and support teen Peer Educators during Peer Education training
• Attend all Peer Education meetings, 2nd Thursday of each month, 6-8pm as well as facilitate your download group
• Attend all Mentor meetings (once a month)
• Assist Peer Educators in preparing outlines to give presentations in Boulder area middle and high schools on sexual harassment, sexual assault, dating abuse and anti-oppression (i.e. sexism, gender violence, racism, heterosexism, classism, ageism and ableism)
• Observe Peer Educators giving presentations, intervene when necessary and give written and verbal constructive feedback, criticism and support
• Give presentations in schools when Peer Educators are not available
• Be responsible for timely communication with staff, other Mentors and assigned group of Peer Educators by phone and/or email
• Counsel and advocate for Peer Educators and/or students if a personal disclosure is made; communicate with staff in a timely manner
• Communicate with school personnel to reinforce preparation prior and follow-up after a presentation is given
• Distribute and collect student evaluations after Peer Education presentations in classrooms; return to staff within one week
• Assist with a minimum of 2 fundraisers for the program per year
• Follow through on committee work projects and extra peer ed projects
• Have fun working for justice!

Time requirements:

• 2-6 hours per week (September-June) assisting in preparation, observing, and/or giving presentations, and committee group work – The requirement is to mentor/present 4-5 presentations per month
• 10 hours of Mentor training in September
• 30 hours of Peer Education training in October
• 2 hours monthly for Peer Education meeting
• 1 hour monthly for Mentor meeting

Qualifications:

• High School graduate or at least 21 years old (unless a former Peer Educator with Safehouse/MESA)
• Experience providing leadership to youth
• Ability to make commitment to Peer Education program from September-May, and to attend all trainings and meetings
• Dedicated interest in creating positive social activism and change with anti-oppression issues