Branches of Mentoring
An intensive workshop with storyteller & mythologist Michael Meade

Oakland, CA ~ Saturday, May 2 ~ 9:30 am to 5:30 pm
The Bender Room at Mills College


Online and phone registration is now closed for this event. You may still register in-person the day of the event at 9 AM. Speak with the parking attendant at Mills College for a free parking pass and directions on campus.

The Branches of Mentoring, the Roots of Elders offers orientation and training in the core ideas and purposes of mentoring.The word "mentor" first appears in an old myth where a culture has been devastated by war and rattled by lawlessness and corruption. The character named Mentor acts as guide and teacher for a young prince having to face the devastation. From the beginning mentoring involves healing culture as well as guiding youth. Creative mentoring is the way culture becomes renewed as well as a process through which youth encounter their own genius and unique spirit for life.

Each mentoring situation becomes a story in which both mentor and youth face issues of change and growth and can find inspired ideas as well as ways to contribute more fully to their communities. Being more art than science, mentoring requires that the mentors develop ways of being creative as well as practices for the art of survival.

While mentoring naturally involves the youth of a community, it also extends to re-imagining meaningful roles for elders. The role of the mentor can be seen as a bridge which invites youth more fully into life, while also preparing the "olders" to step up to becoming elders. Through The Branches of Mentoring, the Roots of Elders people can discover and clarify what they have to offer in the way of teaching, guiding and mentoring others. Typical outcomes of this intensive workshop include: a deepened sense of identity as a mentor; greater awareness of inner resources within individuals and groups; an increased understanding of the spiritual components of mentoring; new frameworks for understanding how learning works. The process of Creative Mentoring can be applied to existing organizations and agencies and also used to fashion new forms for developing community based projects.

Themes include: Genius to Genius Connections " Creative Mentoring " The Psychology of Mentoring " Practice Elders " The Elder-Youth Connection

WORKSHOP INFORMATION
DATE & LOCATION:
Oakland, CA ~ Sunday, May 2, 2009
The Bender Room at Mills College ~ 5000 MacArthur Blvd., Oakland, CA
Cost: $75 for intensive workshop

A confirmation letter with further information will be mailed upon receipt of registration.

DONATIONS: Your donation beyond the workshop fee will support the Mosaic Scholarship Fund, Voices of Youth, Voices of Refugees, Voices of Veterans, and other cross-cultural and inter-generational projects.