Build Community

How does the Mentoring Program work?

Mentors and protégés each go through an orientation process that introduces them to the program. Mentors are required to participate in a Training Institute (details below). Protégés are required to have a one-on-one orientation sessions with the program’s coordinator. Mentor/protégé orientations are also meant to establish programmatic expectations before formally getting matched. For the protégés, it is also an opportunity for the program to get a better understanding of what he/she is looking for from a mentor and the program.

Mentors and protégés are then paired according to students' academic and life interests and mentor's experiences. Once they meet, they develop a relationship by:

• Regularly meeting and keeping in communication with one another.
• Attending various program events sponsored by the Benjamin Elijah Mays Mentoring Program.

How does the matching process work?

Both new mentor and protégés are asked to complete a profile form. This form is used for the matching process. We try our best to get an understanding of what each party is looking for in a mentoring relationship (remember, mentoring is a two-way street!) and match a protégé to a mentor based on interests and experiences. Please note that the matching process is not an exact science and often can take some time in order to find the best match possible. If you do not immediately receive an e-mail from the program, it only means that we are continuing to actively and carefully identify the best match for you!

What do I do once I am matched?

We recommend that protégés and mentors to get in communication (e-mail exchange, phone call, etc.) to set up a first meeting. Many newly matched pairs will attend the next Mays Mentoring Program event as the first meeting. From there, an introduction and conversation about expectations are recommended and then both individuals take it from there!

What if I have questions or concerns?

One of the benefits of participating in a formal mentoring program is that you have a greater support system beyond your mentor/protégé. Mentors and protégés can contact the program administrator (Yara DeSousa) for any questions or concerns. The Mays Mentoring Program serves as a facilitator and helps mentors and protégés to develop and build their mentoring relationship.

For Protégés:

Where do I start?

Students need to complete the protégé profile form. Once you submit the form, the BAIC will be contact with you to set up your one-on-one orientation session. From there, you will be contacted as soon as we find the right mentor match for you!

Please feel free to contact the program administrator (cardosoy@bc.edu) for more information.

For Mentors:

Where do I start?

Dr. Benjamin E. Mays Institute for the Preparation of Faculty Members: Mentors attend an institute to prepare them for the mentoring role. Since mentors and students come from a variety of cultural and racial backgrounds, the institute offers sessions on cross-cultural communications, responsibilities of mentors and techniques for building relationships. All sessions are presented by experts in the field. Current protégés also participate in the institute sharing their stories and describing how mentors have helped them make the transition to university life.

Where can I find the Mentor Profile Form?

Here!

Please e-mail cardosoy@bc.edu once you have completed the form. You will be contacted as soon as we have found the right protégé match for you!

Mentoring Resources:

• http://mentoring.org/
• http://mentoringcentral.net/
• http://umbmentoring.org/

The events coordinated by the Benjamin Elijah Mays Mentoring Program are opportunities for mentors and protégés to formally get together. The events are also a great opportunity to get to know other mentors and protégés in the program. Although these events are not required, we highly encourage mentors and protégés to attend and to attend together. Of course, if your mentor/protégé is unable to attend, please feel free to attend anyways. Again, there are plenty of other wonderful people to meet and get to know.

Kick-Off Event

The Kick-Off event is the first Mays Mentoring Program’s event. It usually occurs in October and is the first opportunity for mentors and protégés to officially meet. The Kick-Off usually has a nice sit-down dinner and provides a space for mentors and protégés to introduce themselves. Occasionally, the Kick-Off Event will feature a speaker or panel to speak about the mentoring relationship.

Saturday Dim Sum Brunch

The Dim Sum event is the only off-campus and weekend trip within the program. Like all the other events, it is an opportunity to further develop your relationship with your mentor/protégé over delicious food, in this case, dim sum! Additionally, it is an great opportunity to get to know downtown Boston (particularly Chinatown). Travel accommodations are provided (bus pick up on campus, bus drop off back to campus). Of course, if you are familiar with the area, you can meet the rest of us there!

Holiday Dinner

Somewhere between the end of the semester, the start of finals, and before the long winter break, there is the Mays Holiday Dinner. This dinner is a opportunity for mentors and protégés alike to take a break from all the end-of-the-semester chaos to have a nice warm meal with your mentor/protégé and the program.

Ice-Cream Social

The Ice-Cream Social is an informal event toward the start of the spring semester. Mentor and protégés are welcomed back from their winter break with ice cream, likely while we are still in the middle of winter (welcome to New England!).

Mays Mentor Roundtable

This is a mentor-only event where we provide brunch to mentors. The Mentor Roundtable is an opportunity for the mentors to provide the program with feedback about their experience throughout their participation as a Mays mentor. It is a great way for the program to continue to evolve and grow. We continually strive to improve the program for current mentors and protégés as well as for the future. Just as mentoring relationships learn and develop, so does the program!

Closing Ceremony

To finish off the spring semester and the year, the Mays Mentoring Program hosts our annual Closing Ceremony. The ceremony serves as an encouragement for mentors and protégés to finish their semesters strong, reflect on their mentoring experience, and is also a time to celebrate the Goldsmith Mentor of the Year. The George Goldsmith Mentor of the Year Award honors an outstanding Mays mentor (nominated by protégés and carefully selected by the program administrator and student coordinator) and is immortalized on the Goldsmith Award Plaque displayed in the Office of AHANA Student Programs.

There are some great off-campus places to check out with your Mays mentor/protege. These are various locations of things-to-do, places-to-see, and good-eats in the Greater Boston area (listed by area). Have fun exploring a little bit of Boston!

Have a recommendation that you do not see on the list? Tell us at: maymentoring@gmail.com.

Cleveland Circle

• Bangkok Bistro: http://www.bangkokbistroma.com/
• Eagle’s Deli: http://eaglesdeli.com/
• Fins: http://finsboston.com/main.html
• Chipotle: http:
• Starbucks: http://www.starbucks.com/store/87273/

Coolidge Corner

• Otto’s Pizza: http://ottopizza.wordpress.com/tag/coolidge-corner/
• Brookline Booksmith Events: http://www.brooklinebooksmith.com/
• Naked Pizza: http://nakedpizza.biz/
• Paris Crepes: http://pariscrepe.com/
• Temptations Cafe: http://www.temptations-cafe.com/
• The Clay Room Pottery Painting:  http://clayroom.weebly.com/
• Zaftigs: http://www.zaftigs.com/

Harvard Ave/Packard’s Corner

• Angora Care’ : http://www.angoracafe.com/ordereze/default.aspx
• Fish Market Sushi Bar: http://www.fishmarketsushibar.com/
• Hanmaru Asian Cuisine: http://www.hanmaruboston.com/
• Korean Garden: http://www.koreangardenboston.com/about.php
• Le’s Restaurant: http://www.lesallston.com/

Newton Center

• Bill’s Pizzeria: http://www.billspizzeria.com/index1.jsp
• Coconut Cafe: http://www.coconutcafenewtoncentre.com/
• Johnny’s: http://johnnysluncheonette.com
• J.P. Licks: http://www.jplicks.com/find_us.html (for location, just click on Newton Center)
• Lee’s Burger Place: http://www.yelp.com/biz/lees-burger-place-newton
• Panera Bread: http://www.panerabread.com/find.php
• Peet’s Coffee & Tea: http://www.peets.com/fvpage.asp?rdir=1&
• Starbucks: http://www.starbucks.com/store/12565/
• Union Street: http://taverninthesquare.com/union-street/union-street/

Washington Street

• Moogy’s Restaurant: http://moogys.com/
• CafeNation: http://www.cafenation.com/
• Tasca Tapas Restaurant: http://www.tascarestaurant.com/

Boston

• Boston Public Library Tours: http://www.bpl.org/central/tours.htm
• Huntington Theatre Company: (Plays) http://www.huntingtontheatre.org/season/subscribe/
• Faneuil Hall Marketplace: http://www.faneuilhallmarketplace.com/
• Institute of Contemporary Art: http://www.icaboston.org/
• Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum: http://www.gardnermuseum.org/
• JFK Library: http://www.jfklibrary.org/
• Mapparium (The Mary Baker Eddy Library): http://www.marybakereddylibrary.org/visit/directions
• Museum of African American History: http://www.afroammuseum.org/
• Museum of Fine Arts: http://www.mfa.org/
• Museum of Science: http://www.mos.org/
• New England Aquarium: http://www.neaq.org/index.php
• Paint Nite: http://paintnite.com/home
• Saturday Haymarket(Farmers’ Market): http://www.bostoncentral.com/events/farmer/p1152.php
• The Sports Museum of New England: http://www.sportsmuseum.org/

Established in 2010, the Goldsmith Mentor of the Year Award is given upon the conclusion of each academic year to a committed and exemplary member of the Benjamin Elijah Mays Mentoring Program who has made significant contributions as a mentor to Boston College students.

The award was established in honor of Dr. George Goldsmith (1923-2009), who was a professor in the Physics Department at Boston College for forty years. Besides being an exceptional teacher and scholar, Dr. Goldsmith mentored many undergraduate and graduate students over his long career and was one of the original Benjamin Mays mentors when the program began in 1991.

Criteria: Selection of the Goldsmith Award winner will be based on two criteria:

• Protégé recommendation(s)
  • Did the mentor go above and beyond in their effects?
  • What impact did the mentor make in the protégé’s life?
• Quality of service to the Benjamin Elijah Mays Mentoring Program
  • Was the mentor a committed member of the program?
  • What was the record of service for this mentor?

Process: Protégé will be contacted for their nominations by the student program coordinator in the spring semester. Protégés wishing to nominate a mentor should adhere to the specified deadline on the nomination form. The program administrator in collaboration with the student program coordinator will review and select the award winner. The award will be presented at the Closing Ceremony at the end of the spring semester.

Introduction

The current curriculum at Boston College and many other colleges and universities do not offer enough opportunities for students to learn about the Asian Pacific Islanders (API) in the history of the United States. When we do read or hear about the APIs, we are often given information about how they were victims to discriminatory acts and torture. On occasion, we learn about how some persevered. More commonly, we hear about these “aliens” or “foreigners” who have “acclimated” and learned to “fit in.” The implicit and maybe even explicit message is that the APIs are “outsiders” trying to “fit in” to the “American” way despite the fact that Asian Pacific Islanders have lived in the United States for well over a century and have contributed significantly to its economy, culture, and history.

For this reason and more, the APAHM celebration at Boston College is an attempt to teach (or remind) every one of us that the APIs are not outsiders or “sojourners.” Further, their history in America should not be read as an “add-on” to American history. Instead, it is a large piece of American history. Without the APIs in United States, the America as we know it today will not be the same.

A Brief History

The idea of Asian Pacific American Heritage Month (APAHM) was introduced to the House of Representatives in June 1977 by Frank Horton of NY and Norman Mineta of CA. The resolution called for the president to establish the first ten days of May as Asian/Pacific Heritage Week.

A month later, it was introduced in a similar bill to the senate by Daniel Inouye and Spark Matsunaga. In 1978, President Jimmy Carter signed a resolution designating that time period as an annual celebration. In 1990, President George Bush designated the whole month of May to be Asian Pacific American Heritage Month. May was chosen in order to commemorate the immigration of the first Japanese immigrants to the United States in 1843.

The APAHM Committee Initiative

Prior to 2003, Boston College Asian student culture clubs have hosted various events to commemorate Asian Americans. The students have not, however, collectively sponsored the celebration of Asian Pacific American Heritage Month (APAHM), which takes place annually in May.

Realizing that the university does not celebrate this month, representatives from the Office of AHANA Student Programs, Center for International Partnerships and Programs, and the Career Center began to organize an event in honor of APAHM. At the same time, several Asian student clubs were making a similar effort. In collaboration with Asian student clubs, the three offices worked to coordinate the First Celebration of Asian Pacific American Heritage Month at Boston College in April 2003.

Purpose

Too often, the memories of and efforts made by Asian Pacific Americans (APA's) are forgotten or even unknown. Below is a very short list of such contributions.

• APA's have an incredible record in the US military. The Japanese Americans, in particular, played a great part during World War II in the 100th Infantry Battalion and the 442nd Regimental Combat Team.

• APA's have been instrumental in the construction of the western half of the transcontinental railroad.

• APA's were vital in turning the western deserts into fertile farmlands.

In addition to their efforts, the suffering and struggles of Asian Pacific Americans have also been disregarded. Here are some examples:

• The Japanese Americans were placed in what we now call Internment Camps during World War II because both countries were at war. Innocent law-abiding Japanese American citizens were unjustly subjugated.

• During the construction of the railroad system, the Chinese Americans were paid the lowest wages to do the most dangerous parts of the work, i.e., detonate explosives. Those who died from the explosives were simply forgotten. Their families back in China did not receive any compensation for their loss.

• The Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882 was enacted because the "Government of the United States felt the coming of Chinese laborers to this country endangers the good order of certain localities within the territory." This was the first and only legal regulation that the US has ratified to preclude an ethnic group from entering this country.

• For centuries, APA's were discriminated against in this country because of the color of their skin.

Reality is that all people of all races and ethnic backgrounds have endured pain and triumphs. But, humans often focus on the differences instead of the commonalities due to a lack of knowledge, understanding, and sometimes respect. This is why it is crucial to educate to foster that mutual understanding and respect for one another.

In honor of the Asian Pacific Americans who have made contributions and sacrifices for the betterment of the United States and their citizens, and in an effort to educate each other, the APAHM Committee proudly organizes the celebration of Asian Pacific American Heritage Month.

Mission

It is the mission of the Asian Pacific American Heritage Month Committee to promote awareness, appreciation and understanding of Asian Pacific American culture and experience. Implicit in the mission is the Committee's commitment to encourage mutual respect for cultural diversity of all racial and ethnic groups. It is also in the interest of the Committee to foster the positive growth of APA youth in developing and establishing their identity.

Check out information from previous APAHM celebrations.

Overview

Not excluding any other time of the year, February hones in on the opportunity to celebrate a rich and diverse culture, tradition, the history, and acknowledge the important contributions of black people. Black history month is an opportune time to educate the general public, to raise awareness about the unique challenges black people have faced both historically and in the present, and to celebrate how far we’ve come and where we are going.

In order to celebrate this rich culture the Thea Bowman AHANA Intercultural Center our Opening ceremony began with opening reamrks from Interim Vice President of Student Affairs, Joy Moore followed with prayer led by Assistant Director of BAIC, Danielle Date. Myia Coleman' 19 recited Maya Angelou's "Still I Rise" poem. The celebration focus on music with performances by B.E.A.T.S. (Boston College's only a cappella group that focuses on music that has shaped the black community in the United States) and Lovely Hoffman ’04 (New England urban music award winner, and multi-talented performer). BAIC also provided an interactive and guided paint experience hosted by Sanaa With Friends. Sanaa means art in Swahili, an east African language steeped in rich history and tradition. Lastly, closing ceremony focused on powerful and inspirational black women who have created success against all odds. Anawan Street Productions, a media house that brings forth visuals that both provoke and entertain audiences, headlined closing ceremony. The event opened by Phaymus (a Boston College all female hip-hop dance group) and transitioned into a film spotlighting 4 unique women who reached their career dreams amongst many obstacles.

Events also included spoken word hosted by Black Student Association, dance performances by SC, kanta karaoke hosted by Cape Verdean Student Association, the annual fashion show hosted by African Student Association, discussion panel about black liberation effects hosted by Haitian Student Association, Chambers Lecture Series ft. Dr. Bennet Omalu hosted by the Winston Center, MLK scholarship ceremony honoring Akosua Opokua’18, and an art exhibit titled “My Black is Beautiful” ft. Jordan Barros’19 (located on the 1^st floor of O’Neill library).  The ultimate goal is to celebrate all forms of black culture whether it be through art, dance, music, fashion, or all of the above. Attendance of the programs ranged from 25 to 75 students depending on the event and RSVP requirement.

About Hispanic Heritage Month

Boston College will celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month, held from September 15 through October 15, with a series of art presentations, lectures, discussions, and social events.

Hispanic Heritage Month officially begins on September 15, the anniversary of independence for five Latin American countries: Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua. Mexico declared its independence on September 16, and Chile on September 18.

The celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month educates both students and the community alike about Hispanic culture, language, and history.

Boston College’s Hispanic Heritage Month events are free and open to all students, faculty, staff, alumni, parents, and the greater Boston community.

Connect With Us Through Social Media

www.facebook.com/HispanicHeritageMonthBC

https://twitter.com/BC_HHM

About Native American Heritage Month

Native American Heritage Month is obesrved in the United States during the month of November.  In 1990, President George Bush declared the first National American Indian Heritage Month on August 3rd. For more information about the origins please click here.