Welcome to Uplift Mentoring
Nurturing Hearts, Building Bonds: Where Social and Emotional Learning meets Inclusive Connections for Every Child's Bright Tomorrow
At Uplift Mentoring NYC, we offer a unique and innovative mentoring program designed specifically for children with disabilities. Our program is run by a team of dedicated, compassionate teen mentors who have a passion for helping others. I created this startup program as someone with disabilities. We fully understand the challenges that children with disabilities face every day. We are committed to helping our mentees acquire important social and emotional skills, build confidence, and advocate for themselves. Our program creates a safe and supportive community where children with disabilities can thrive.
Our 9 through 13 year old mentees, are paired with high school age mentors. For a minority of kids it gives them others to relate to as well as a person to look up to in a casual setting where they can feel comfortable and supported while learning positive social emotional skills.
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Our volunteer mentors go through trainings in Social Emotional Learning, mentoring in general, mentoring children, adapting for individual children's needs, empathy (versus sympathy), and emotional sensitivity.
Should a mentee need particular accommodations an additional training is scheduled for the mentor to learn about their mentee's disability, needed accommodations, and adapting the curriculum.
Winner of GSGNY
Gold Award 2023
For accessibility the program will be running primarily virtual. Mentees should be able to meet with their mentors once a week, virtually. It is very flexible. During the application process mentors and mentees both indicate what days are best for them so mentors will be matched with mentees available on the same days, and we decide from there what would be best for that pair. There are only two events scheduled in-person. The first being the meet and greet with the entire cohort. This is definitely not mandatory, but if the mentee is able to it is highly encouraged! Details are shared closer to dates upon acceptation into the program.
Mentees Gain
Social Emotional Skills
Mentees will complete a curriculum of activities meant to build a growth and positivity mindset, with a focus on mindfulness, coping skills, self care, self esteem and focusing on things one can control rather than worrying about what is our of their control.
Advocacy Skills
Through meeting with their mentors, mentees will learn how to articulate how they're feeling, and ask for what they need. This is a life skill their mentors will support that will help them in school and beyond.
A community of kids with similar struggles to lean on
Having a chronic condition at any age can be an isolating feeling. Being apart of a cohort that includes other children with conditions we combat this isolated feeling helping mentees feel more positive. Support systems help one feel more understood
A greater sense of self
For our end of year project mentors will help mentees create a biography about their condition, how it affects them, how they are separate from their condition (ie “my condition does not define me”) and what they hope for in their future. Mentees will be learning how to view themselves in a positive light.
Holistic Approach
Compassion
Uplift Mentoring was founded as a Gold Award Project, and we are proud to continue our mission of supporting children with disabilities. Advisors to the creation of our program include hospital Child Life Staff, Guidance Counselors, and Social Workers. Our unique program pairs mentees with teen Mentors to create powerful connections that foster growth, independence, and self-advocacy. As the founder, I bring my own experience with disabilities to the table, creating a space where everyone feels heard, seen, and valued.