Wednesday, February 12, 2014

Kids 'n Kinship Mentor Wins Be the Change Award!




Congratulations Kids 'n Kinship mentor, Judy Olhoft for being one of 4 winners of the HandsOn Twin Cities Be the Change award for 2014!  She will be given the award this Saturday February 15 at the HandsOn Twin Cities Volunteer Expo at the Mall of America.  The Volunteer Expo runs from 10 am to 3 pm and Kids 'n Kinship's booth will be located in front of Macy's.  Stop by to visit with staff, ambassadors, and mentors and learn more about mentoring youth in Dakota County!

You're also invited to attend the Awards Ceremony from 1-1:30 pm at the Rotunda to see Judy accept her award, along with her mentee.  THANKS FOR EVERYTHING, JUDY!


To learn more about Kids 'n Kinship, visit our website www.kidsnkinship.org. You're also invited to an information session on Thursday Feb. 20, 6-6:45 pm at the Burnhaven Library in Burnsville. To RSVP, call  or call 952-891-3885.




Thursday, February 6, 2014

Welcome Moses Dennis!


I would like to introduce a new addition to our Kids ‘n Kinship staff family.  Moses Dennis was hired recently as our Recruitment Coordinator.  His job will be to work diligently to find mentors for the youth on our waiting list for a mentor.

Moses Dennis has more than 25 years of experience in public relations and communications with corporations and non-profits. He joins Kids ‘n Kinship after serving as communications manager for a non-profit international trade association.

"I'm excited to be a part of an organization that truly makes a difference in the lives of our youth and their families, and has an excellent reputation in the community," Dennis exclaimed.

Mr. Dennis has experience with print, web-based communication and social media. As a professional speaker, he has delivered over 100 speeches at fundraising campaigns for local chapters of national non-profit organizations.

 An avid tennis fan, Mr. Dennis has been a volunteer junior tennis coach and served on several tennis committees for the United States Tennis Association Northern Section.

He and his wife, Mary, have lived in Savage, Minnesota for the past 20 years. They have four adult sons.

For more information about Kids 'n Kinship youth mentoring program, go to www.kidsnkinship.org.  Our next information session is Thursday February 20, 6-6:45 pm at Burnhaven Library in Burnsville. To RSVP, call 952-891-3885.






Tuesday, February 4, 2014

Developmental Stages of Young People: Part Three

RELATIONSHIPS WITH OTHERS
Generally, 10- to 12-year-olds still enjoy being around family members. This is typically the age when romantic relationships start to become of interest, and friends and peers become even more important in their lives. As young people mature, they begin to actively seek out ways to be more independent of their family and to bond more closely with peers.

Tips for interacting with your mentee:
  • At this age, young people are beginning to think like adults, but they don’t have the experience and judgment needed to act like adults. Help your mentee recognize this.
  • Suggest constructive behaviors, but provide multiple options to allow your mentee to make choices. For example, describe the positive aspects of helping a younger child with homework, doing chores without being asked, or volunteering with a friend at a local charity.
  • Never give up on your mentee, even when things get tough.
for-children-teens-and-adults
Reprinted with permission from Search Institute®.  From Mentoring for Meaningful Results: Asset-Building Tips, Tools, and Activities for Youth and Adults. Copyright © 2008 Search Institute, Minneapolis, MN; 800-888-7828; www.search-institute.org. All rights reserved.