The Mentoring Partnership of Southwestern Pennsylvania

Do you know what today is? Today is the first ever 988 day, which is meant to bring awareness to the 988 Su***de & Crisis Lifeline. This initiative helps emphasize the importance of mental health and su***de prevention. 988 Lifeline Chat and Text connects you with caring crisis counselors for emotional support. To be connected with a crisis counselor, simply call 988. To text with a caring counselor, text 988 on your phone.

NO JUDGEMENT. JUST HELP. ***deawarenessday

Congratulations to our latest 2024 All-Peer Team member: William Scoop Smith! An All-State and two-sport All-Conference athlete from Woodland Hills High School, William is active in his community, providing holiday meals to families in need through his nonprofit. He also served as Junior class President while excelling academically.

It’s Week 2 of our Steelers All-Peer Team and we’re thrilled to add Sam Brackney of to the roster! A 1st team All-Conference student-athlete, Sam embodies leadership on and off the field. Active in Student Council, leadership committees, and My Brother’s Keeper, he has a scholarship offer to Brown University for next fall. Congratulations Sam!

Meet our first 2024 All-Peer: Dominic Brown!
Dominic is a standout captain and leader , serving in Student Government, Student Council, and the National Honor Society! He arrives early and stays late to help his teammates.

For the twelfth year running, is gearing up to get families ready for the first day of school. We’re thrilled to be part of this amazing event again! Join us at back-to-school bash next Monday, August 19 from 11 AM to 3 PM at

This fun-filled event offers two ways to participate:
1. In-Person: Acrisure Fed Ex Great Hall, 100 Art
Rooney Ave, Pittsburgh, PA 15212.
2. Drive-Thru: Gold Lot 1A, General Robinson St,
Pittsburgh, PA 15212.
Come snag free stuffed book bags, food, haircuts, hairstyles, manicures, shoes, socks, and more!

Register by visiting https://pghboe.azl.qualtrics.com/ jfe/form/SV_bf7qtz2gBOCuvPO

The PT Services Group

Thanks to the Pittsburgh Steelers and Steelers season ticket holders, we were able to host Mentoring Day at Acrisure Stadium! Hundreds of program staff, volunteer mentors, mentees and their families were in attendance to cheer on the Black and Gold at Friday's preseason game. For many, it was their first Steelers game! 22 organizations were represented -- all doing amazing work to ensure that the young people they serve are surrounded by strong, supportive relationships. The atmosphere was electric and we're carrying that same energy into the week ahead. Here we gooooo!
Steelers Nation Unite

Did you know that 1 in 5 teens in the U.S. will experience a mental health challenge by the time they are 18? [Source: Mental Health First Aid] Mentoring and strong relationships can be a protective factor when it comes to youth mental health and well-being. As a long-time provider of Youth Mental Health First Aid, we're thrilled to share that we're now also an official provider of teen Mental Health First Aid (tMHFA). This course is designed to teach teens in grades 9-12 how to identify, understand and respond to signs of mental health and substance use challenges among their friends and peers. Special thanks to the Jewish Healthcare Foundation for their support in helping us bring this training to more young people in our community! Interested in learning more about tMHFA? Click the link below.

https://mentoringpittsburgh.org/trainings/teen-mental-health-first-aid

Here we goooooo! TMP is teaming up with the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette to build the third annual Steelers All-Peer Team. The Team will feature 11 high school football players from around the region who go above and beyond to offer mentor-like support to their peers – on and off the field. Winners will participate in a discussion with Steelers players and will celebrate during an on-field ceremony at a Steelers home game this upcoming season. Winning players will also receive a $1,000 donation to their school's athletic program. Nominations must be completed by a high school principal, athletic director or football coach. Click the link below for full details and the nomination form.
https://mentoringpittsburgh.org/news_posts/nominations-open-for-the-pittsburgh-steelers-2024-all-peer-team
Pittsburgh Steelers Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Caring adults have the opportunity to create an atmosphere of acceptance for young people, which involves communicating an unconditional positive appraisal of a young person's worth and value. For a young person, this means that, regardless of their choices, they can count on you to accept them as they are. Learn more about creating an atmosphere of acceptance by catching up on Chapter 11 of the Becoming a Better Mentor Guide!

https://www.mentoring.org/resource/becoming-a-better-mentor/

Sports can be a big part of a young person’s life, and few know this better than Coach Bob Jones, who has been coaching youth football for more than 30 years! Coach Jones joins us for Season 6 Episode 4 of our Mentor Chat podcast. Listen in to learn more about how he intentionally builds relationships with young people through sports and navigates conversations about positive behavioral changes.

https://player.captivate.fm/episode/831a519b-75e7-475b-8357-8c3d6c694a1e/

July is Disability Pride Month, a time to learn about and educate others on disability issues and inclusivity practices. Follow along today to learn more about the Parent Education & Advocacy Leadership Center (PEAL Center), a nonprofit dedicated to supporting families, youth, and young adults with disabilities and special health care needs. Visit pealcenter.org.

Join Open Field this fall as a coach mentor! Lead youth in recreational league play and use soccer to teach SEL/Life Skills. Sign up by August 16th!

Join Mayor Ed Gainey and his Office of Equal Protection to celebrate Disability Pride! RSVP today!

[ID: Flyer reads: “MAYOR ED GAINEY’S OFFICE OF EQUAL PROTECTION “MAYOR’S RALLY FOR Disability Rights”! Celebrate Disability Pride! Join Mayor Ed Gainey and his Office of Equal Protection as they celebrate the 34th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act and discuss the steps Pittsburgh is taking to improve accessibility citywide! MONDAY, JULY 22 | 5:30-7:30 PM GOOGLE PITTSBURGH (6425 PENN AVE.) *ASL INTERPRETATION WILL BE PROVIDED, RSVP for attendance is required! RSVP TODAY at https://bit.ly/rally-disability-rights FOR ANY DISABILITY ACCESSIBILITY NEEDS, PLEASE CONTACT THE ADA COORDINATOR AT: [email protected] AT LEAST TWO DAYS PRIOR TO EVENT”, written in black letters, shown with a logo for the Office of the Mayor of the City of Pittsburgh in black and gold, with a silhouette of three people with various disabilities, holding hands together and up in celebration, to the right of the flyer on a pale green background.]

Join TMP for Episode 3 of Season 6! Ashley and Sophia talk with Dr. Deanna Sinex from Youth Enrichment Services (YES). Discover how YES and other supporting partners work with the City of Pittsburgh to implement the Youth Civic Leadership Academy (YCLA) and help youth explore career fields, learn valuable skills, and gain access to unique opportunities. https://player.captivate.fm/episode/7a12d03f-d56a-458c-a32c-00a29b

We're seeking someone to lead our Relationship-Centered Schools initiative in Western PA. If you're passionate about fostering strong connections between students and caring adults and have experience in education, mentoring, and program management, we want to hear from you! Head over to https://bit.ly/TMP-Hiring to learn more about this exciting new position.

Young people often form their most powerful relationships during their school years. Join TMP for one of their Relationship-Centered Schools Framework Info Sessions to learn how to strengthen these connections further. Register today to secure your spot: https://bit.ly/RCS-InfoSession

As we celebrate this , we recall that many of the 1776 changemakers were young people. Youth have always aspired for greatness and sought to bring positive change. We owe it to the next generation to support their efforts.

We had a great time on Friday at the Hazelwood Block Party! We enjoyed seeing so many of our partners together for a fun evening in the ‘Burgh.

Join us in celebrating this July by committing to continuous learning about disability issues & inclusivity practices. Supportive mentoring relationships can help foster this. Learn more at tinyurl.com/2bfzp6va Partners for Youth with Disabilities

As comes to a close, we want to remind everyone that inclusive spaces are vital for all people, regardless of their identity. Creating and maintaining these spaces fosters acceptance, support, and understanding for everyone in our community. Let's continue to champion inclusivity all year round!

It's Friday, which means we have a new episode of our Mentor Chat Podcast! In Season 6, Episode 2, Ashley and Sophia talk with Lead Counselor Justin Pacini from Crossroads Foundation. Join them as they take a deeper look into Chapter 12 of MENTOR's Becoming a Better Mentor Guide: Expanding Networks of Support. https://www.mentoringpittsburgh.org/news_posts/mentor-chat-podcast-season-6

According to The Trevor Project's 2022 National Survey, 45% of LGBTQ youth seriously considered attempting su***de in the past year. This alarming statistic highlights the urgent need for support and intervention. You can help lower this number by fostering inclusive and safe environments for those who need it. Let's work together to create a safer, more supportive world for LGBTQ youth.

The simplicity of this one question has the potential to do so much for a person, especially LGBTQ+ youth. Asking how to show up for someone is always better than assuming. To learn more about the language to use around sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender expression (SOGIE), check out the May 2024 LENS Meeting Recap on our website or today's Everyday Mentoring Tip!

Join Caring Hearts, Mayor of North Braddock, and other community leaders this Saturday, June 29, for the 1st Annual Mental Health Awareness Day! Help raise awareness and bring essential resources to the Mon-Valley and surrounding areas. Come out to support mental health, and remember to wear your green! Email [email protected] with any questions.

"We are mentors — we’re like big brothers to our students. We try to be authentic and genuine with them in terms of helping them figure out who they are and what they want to do and then put them in the best position to be successful.”

Learn more about Future Kings Mentoring in this great story by NEXTpittsburgh!

Tony Norman: Tomorrow looks bright for Future Kings Mentoring The mission of Future Kings Mentoring is “to cultivate and develop male-identifying black youth into realizing they are Future Kings."

Today we commemorate , a symbol of liberation and hope. We continue to fight systemic racism by through youth mentorship that drives & empowers social equity & racial justice.

Honoring our long-time Honor Board Member, Sy Holzer. Sy was a tireless advocate for children and families in Pittsburgh and beyond. He recognized the value of strong relationships for all young people. His dedication to our organization and countless others in our community will leave a lasting legacy of care, compassion and service. Never a dull moment with Sy Holzer in the room and we're grateful for the support and smiles he shared with us over the years.

Pittsburgh titan and former PNC Bank CEO Sy Holzer dies at 75 Sy Holzer, 75, of Upper St. Clair, was surrounded by his family leading up to his death, according to his son, Brian Holzer of Louisville, Ky.

From addressing disorderly conduct to truancy, Caring Connections for YOUth offers solutions! They provide youth with a 24/7 call center, a referral network, and community interventions. Learn more about Caring Connections for YOUth at cc4youth.org.