MENTORING MATTERS CONFERENCE
Celebrate and center community at the 20th Annual Virtual Mentoring Matters Conference on Friday, March 31, 2023!
New York’s premiere convening for mentoring and youth development practitioners, the 2023 conference will cover best and innovative practices in the field, address emerging challenges, and explore how to increase capacity, authentically amplify youth voice, and truly show up for young people!
Stay up to date with conference updates at #MMC2023
Keynote & Youth Panels
To lift voices in our field.
Centering on authentic relationship-driven approaches with equity and joy as the foundation.
Practice-Based Workshops
To reflect on, inform, and develop practice.
Practitioners will apply knowledge to real-life situations through case studies and professional discussion.
Breakout Sessions
To elevate promising practices in the field.
Attendees will have the opportunity to come together to discuss workshop learnings and how to implement them within their organizations.
Q&A with Reggie Love, New York Times best-selling author and former Personal Aide to
President Barack Obama.
2023 PROGRAM
KEYNOTE
MORNING PROGRAM
Morning Plenary | 9 - 9:40 AM
Keynote Q&A with Reggie Love
Amelia and Reggie will discuss how mentors shaped Reggie’s career, how we can best engage young people in the workplace, and what program practitioners should consider when recruiting mentors.
Morning Panel | 9:40 - 10:25 AM
Celebrating & Centering Youth & Community
Focusing on the power of meeting the youth and community you serve "where they are at," this dynamic panel will discuss engagement practices, messaging, and youth-led approaches that center the particular needs, strengths, and desires of community members to effectively cultivate meaningful, intentional, and transformational relationships.
Workshops | 10:35 - 11:45 AM
Four workshop options focusing on topics ranging from mentoring young people who have experienced trauma, to impactful storytelling to build connections. Presenters:
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Lia Taylor Harper, Connections Mentor Inc.
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Gina Patterson, Boston Medical Center
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Chotsani Williams West, Adelphi University
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Daniel Russell, Bridge the Gap
Keynote Fireside Chat | 11:55 AM - 12:40 PM
Mentor Recruitment — What's It Gonna Take?
MENTOR New York CEO Brenda Jimenez and speakers Joie Golomb, Gary Bagley, and Claudia Espinosa discuss current trends in mentor recruitment, considerations since the start of the pandemic, and what it takes to effectively engage and sustain volunteers.
Open Space Conversation | 12:40 - 1 PM
Open Spaces allow conference attendees to network, meet each other, and reflect on and share learnings from the morning session with attendees who participated in different workshops. Open Spaces are facilitated by programs that are a part of MENTOR New York's Network.
AFTERNOON PROGRAM
Workshops | 1:30 - 2:40 PM
Three workshops focusing on working with different populations and communities. Presenters:
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Douglas Marquee, Educator & Behavioral Specialist
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Nancy O'Donnell, Usher Syndrome Coalition
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Mike Fagbemi, National Center on Deaf-Blindness
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Gi Swords & Faith Winship, GLYS WNY
Open Space Conversation | 2:45 - 3:05 PM
Open Spaces allow conference attendees to network, meet each other, and reflect on and share learnings from the morning and afternoon sessions with attendees who participated in different workshops. Open Spaces are facilitated by programs that are a part of MENTOR New York's Network.
Youth Panel | 3:05 - 3:50 PM
Creating a Youth Advisory Council at Solar One
Closing out the conference will be the voices of Solar One’s Youth Advisory Council (the YAC) to speak about the creation, management, and benefits of building their youth board. Check out the MENTOR New York blog for a sneak peek at the making of their program.
SPEAKER HIGHLIGHTS
More panelists and workshop presenters will be announced soon.
Wondering what to expect? See our Top 5 Takeaways from the 2022 conference.
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BUY TICKETS
I felt as if what was said during the conference was so validating for us to have outside sources saying things about how important it is for organizations to prioritize youth voice and choice.
Zoë Auerbach, Program Manager, CHIME and Young Leaders
2022 Mentoring Matters Conference Attendee
You can also register for the event directly on the Whova platform.
This conference was definitely a reminder for me that we need to incorporate our students’ voices in our projects within our organization.
Dan Gonzalez, Program Associate, Minds Matter NYC
2022 Mentoring Matters Conference Attendee
SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES
Become an event sponsor to support the mentoring movement across New York State.
Convened by MENTOR New York
Presenting Sponsor
Gold Sponsor
Silver Sponsor
University Partners
