Guest Post: Jeff Walker

Today's post is from one of my AmeriCorps colleagues who helped facilitate the introduction of the Men in Mentoring Toolkit.

Thanks Jeff!

Hello, I’m AmeriCorps Member Jeff Walker and I serve with the 4-H Mentor Michigan Initiative in Muskegon and Ottawa County. Since joining with AmeriCorps, my experience has been both rewarding and challenging. I coordinate the Men In Mentoring Initiative and I primarily recruit male volunteers to become mentors.

As I recruit, I’m finding out that many men are afraid to mentor because of how they may be perceived by others. They are only viewing the negative hindrances without seeing the big picture of the benefits mentoring has to offer. Most are even unaware of what mentoring is until a program like, Big Brothers big Sisters is mentioned. I have personally spoken with over a dozen men who have verbally expressed interest, but it faded away as we discussed the commitment factor involved.

I think by having this Men In Mentoring Toolkit in place will provide valuable key information and terms to the approach and verbal engagement with potential volunteers. I believe when you are able to communicate on the same level as another individual that makes them more comfortable within their own “element”.

As one of the presenters during our workshop, I now have more confidence moving forward in the recruiting process. The most important thing to remember is how to use and phrase your words. We have to be fully aware of the words that will trigger further resistance or fear for the volunteer.