E-Mentoring: Best Practices for Mentoring During Social Distancing - Part 2

The COVID-19 outbreak has revealed a lot about our society. Students are used to spending 8 hours of their day inside a school building. They have set class times, lunch breaks, and P.E. classes that provide structure and allow them to move around.

With almost 80% of the country's population sheltered in place, students who once longed for summertime are now counting down the days until they can return to school. Frankly, many PEAK scholars and their peers are struggling with the adjustment, for many reasons.

This is where mentors like yourself come in. Mentors can help young people thrive during this time in many ways.

1. Help your mentee structure his/her day.

• Many students engaged in e-learning aren’t sure how to plan their day and end up burning out quickly, and or getting behind on assignments.

2. Connect your mentee and their family with much-needed resources.

• With more than 15% of America’s population either furloughed or unemployed, families need a helping hand. Here are some resources from the Greater Chicago Food Depository that might help.

3. Participate in fun virtual activities together.

• Who said you needed to leave your house to enjoy a museum? Check out these cool virtual museum tours with your student.

4. Create something new together.

• With more time on their hands, Americans are learning new skills while quarantined. Check out this fun activity.

PEAK’s mentors have really stepped up, sometimes talking several times per week with their scholars -- they are even organizing group activities and chats as we approach spring break. If you would like mentoring advice, PEAK Program Manager Anthony Bolden is here to help! Contact him at abolden@peakchicago.org.