Belinda Grant, Executive Director of NAF.  Photo: Urban News

“There is not a single book on earth that is completely understood by just one person. Every one of us comes to the printed page with prior knowledge and experiences, with different viewpoints and biases, with different insights and blind-spots. Though we can “comprehend” text the first time we read it, deeper comprehension is more likely to occur when we discuss our readings with others.” 
~ Kelly Gallagher, “Deeper Reading: Comprehending Challenging Texts”

Think about all the things you have learned over the course of your life. Many of those skills, ideas and bits of wisdom have stuck with you and remain dear to your heart because of how you felt and feel about the person you learned them from. Have you ever had a Mentor? What did you learn? How did that mentor (role model, tutor, etc.,) impact your life?

Mentor, according to the American Heritage Dictionary, means “a wise and trusted counselor or teacher” and has Greek root meaning of “steadfast and enduring.” The Greek poet Homer first coined the word “mentor” in his epic poem, The Odyssey.

A great warrior, Odysseus, knowing he was to be away from his home for many years on a journey to fight in the Trojan War, chose and entrusted the care of his kingdom to a man named Mentor. Mentor was to be the guardian , tutor and overseer of his son, Telemachus.

Mentoring is not simply a nice, touchy-good-feeling kind of gesture, but a social and moral obligation to pass on to others necessary skills and understandings, and to learn from them in a mutually respected and supportive relationship and environment.

In many professions it is not uncommon for a new employee to be placed under the care of an established and seasoned staff person. This established staff person is often charged with the task of helping to train, advise, and share practical experience with the new staff person in the organization. This process is commonly known as mentoring, and the professional who is responsible for the care and nurture of the newcomer is referred to as a mentor.

The role of the mentor is multi-faceted. A mentor is a coach, cheerleader, guide, tutor, facilitator, counselor and trusted advisor. A mentor is someone willing to spend his or her time and expertise to guide the development of another person. A mentee is a student, protégé, apprentice and eager learner. A mentee is someone who wants to learn from someone and seeks their valuable advice in order to grow personally and/or professionally.

A mentorship is a relationship formed between a mentor and mentee with the goal of sharing knowledge and expertise between the mentor and the mentee. It can be a formal relationship with written goals and scheduled meeting times or it can be as informal as an occasional chat or email exchange.

Mentoring is the concept behind Project NAF’s initiative AIM, (Advocacy & Information through Mentoring). Through this service, program participants will receive additional support and assistance through the development of a mentoring network from African-American community leaders. On Saturday, July 31, 2010, a training workshop was held to launch this new program initiative. The room was filled with excitement as community leaders shared their ideas insight and expertise in implementing this plan.

Mentors with Mount Zion Community Development, Inc. Project NAF Program & Staff. 1st row (L-R): Letitia Bromell-Ross, Project EMPOWER Outreach Worker, Anne White, Shaneka Simmons, Shari Smith, Project NAF Outreach Worker, and Belinda K. Grant, Executive Director. 2nd row: April Stewart, Lorraine King, Treva Williams, and Dionne L. Terrell. 3rd row: Nanci Farmer and Shelva Davis-Burt.  Photo: MZCD

Through AIM, mentors will meet with program participants once per month to provide advocacy and support and will assist Program Participants:
•    In the completion of an Empowerment Plan by setting short and long term goals, and providing a feasible course of action that is relevant to the situation
•    In providing education about the importance of breastfeeding
•    In identifying positive things in their lives, concentrating on their strengths and using these strengths as a framework to help identify and overcome areas for growth
•    In providing resource options in reaching personal and professional goals, and
•    In conveying “hope” advocacy and support.

By sharing what you have learned with other women desiring to follow in your footsteps, you are doing a tremendous service to future generations of women. You are raising the bar on what women can accomplish in the workplace and you are letting everyone know that there are plenty of intelligent and strong, yet caring and supportive, women out there. You are furthering the status of women both in the local community and around the world by taking the time to share your wisdom with someone else. What about you, are you willing to make a difference and share your time, knowledge and expertise with a Project NAF participant?

For more information, please contact Belinda K. Grant or Shari Smith at (828) 225-8155. 47 Eagle Street, Asheville, NC 28801.
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Website: www.mtzionasheville.org