Young Women Leaders Program 2017-2018 YWL Participant Handbook Perseverance [pur-suh-veer-uhns]: Steady persistence in a course of action, a purpose, a state, etc. Synonyms tenacity, determination, staying power 1
Table of Contents Welcome Letter 3 Calendar of Events 4 Overview of the Mentoring Program 5 Expectations 6 Scholarship Information for Mentored Senior 7 Bringing Your Best Self 9 Tracking Mentor Hours 11 2
Executive Committee Co-Presidents Samantha Heckman, Esq. Stephanie Weisman, Esq. Secretary Lindsay Goldstein Treasurer London Pyle Board of Directors Heather Benedict Breeanna Fujio, Esq. Vicki Higgins Pantea Ilbeigi, Esq. Kimberly Krause Shannon Lawrence Executive Administrator Katrina Thomas Founder Mary T. Roche Advisory Committee Amy Blaisdell Renell E. Burch, Esq. Lauren Del Sarto Jenell Fontes VanDenBos Sonja Fung, ND Connie Golds Patti Gribow Nona S. Solowitz, CPA, CGMA Kate Spates Deborah Tryon October 22, 2017 Dear Young Women Leaders, Welcome to the 2017 2018 Young Women Leaders (YWL) program. Making the effort to join and commit to a leadership program is the first step to a successful school and career path. We have a lot in store for you this year, and are excited about your participation. Our goal is to equip you with the education, tools, and confidence to go into the world as a leader. Through the educational workshops, you will learn about public speaking, preparing for college life, health and wellness, leadership, community service, and professional etiquette. High school seniors will also have the opportunity to participate in a one-on-one career mentoring program. We work hard to match every interested high school senior with a professional WLF mentor in a career field of interest (depending upon availability). Each mentorship pair will spend a minimum of 10 hours together over the course of the program. Following successful completion of the mentoring program hours and completing the required educational workshops, senior Young Women Leader participants are given an opportunity to apply for a Women Leaders Forum scholarship. Keep in mind that all the eligibility requirements outlined in this handbook must be met in order to be eligible for scholarships. As co-chairs of Young Women Leaders program, we are honored to help each and every one of you rise to your true potential. We look forward to an exciting year with you! Sincerely, Heather Benedict and Bree Fujio WLF Young Women Leaders Co-Chairs 74-923 Hwy 111, PMB 129 Indian Wells, CA 92210 (760) 837-7222 info@wlfdesert.org www.wlfdesert.org
CALENDAR OF EVENTS By committing to the Young Women Leaders program, you must be prepared to attend the educational workshops listed below. If you are unable to attend, you must email ywl@wlfdesert.org beforehand. Senior YWLs will be required to attend the workshops plus complete 10 mentoring hours in order to qualify for a scholarship. Date and Time Event Location 10/22/17 2:00pm-5:00pm 11/5/17 11:00am 3:00pm 12/2/17 (Saturday) 8:30am 1:00pm 01/21/18 2:00pm-5:00pm Orientation Mandatory for all YWLs Program overview & expectations Career roundtables learn from various mentors about their professions Art and Etiquette Event Mandatory for Mentoring Seniors (Lunch is provided) Mentors and Mentees are introduced Educational lecture on art and etiquette FIND Food Bank Community Service Day Lunch is provided Check-in at 8:30 with signed permission slips Dress comfortably; wear close-toed shoes and a light jacket or sweater Public Speaking & Social Media Effective speaking and presentation tips Using social media to your advantage UCR Palm Desert Campus 75-080 Frank Sinatra Dr. Palm Desert, CA Palm Springs Art Museum in Palm Desert 72-567 Highway 111 Palm Desert, CA FIND Food Bank 83775 Citrus Avenue Indio, CA 92201 UCR Palm Desert Campus 75-080 Frank Sinatra Dr. Palm Desert, CA TBD 02/25/18 2:00pm-5:00pm Medical Career Day at CSUSB (optional, but all are encouraged to attend) Medical professionals panel Hands-on nursing lab CSUSB facility tour Preparing for College Life Organization and time management Financial matters and budgets Campus safety CSUSB Campus UCR Palm Desert Campus 75-080 Frank Sinatra Dr. Palm Desert, CA 4
03/17/18 03/17/18 2:00pm-5:00pm 04/06/18 (Friday) OneFuture Scholarship Application Deadline Health and Wellness Nutrition Yoga and mindfulness Creating a happy and healing environment DEADLINE: All Mentoring Hours Input Online www.onefuturecv.org UCR Palm Desert Campus 75-080 Frank Sinatra Dr. Palm Desert, CA www.ywldesert.org May 2018 Scholarship Awards Luncheon Location and Time TBA OVERVIEW OF THE MENTORING PROGRAM For Seniors: The Program has been developed to provide seniors with an opportunity to mentor with a professional woman. We do our best to pair each senior with a mentor who works in a profession that is of interest to her... but, we can t guarantee it. Paired seniors will be spending a minimum of 10 hours with their mentor, learning various aspects of her job, and what is required in that profession. This will be an opportunity to get a first-hand view what it s like to work in a particular industry/workplace. Students are encouraged to ask questions and get detailed input about the profession. 5
EXPECTATIONS (EVEN IF YOU RE NOT A SENIOR SOME OF THESE EXPECTATIONS APPLY) Attend all mentor/mentee meetings for a minimum of 10 hours at your mentor s workplace or agreed-upon location between the mentor and mentee. This is mandatory for graduating seniors seeking a WLF scholarship. Arrive on time to every commitment including all workshops and mentor meetings. If you can t keep your commitment, you must contact your mentor before the scheduled meeting to make other arrangements. Respond promptly to mentor emails and calls. Arrange your own transportation to and from all mentor meetings and educational workshops. Adhere to the dress code at your mentor s workplace and all educational workshops (see Bring Your Best Self section below). Come prepared for all meetings. Bring a pen and paper to take notes. Complete the attendance sheet at every event. All mentees must also enter completed mentoring hours via our online portal at www.ywldesert.org. Your mentor will approve the submitted hours. All hours must be submitted and approved by April 6, 2018. Complete the end-of-year evaluation of your mentor program experience (required for scholarship or to be considered for next year s mentoring program). Note: We highly recommend taking advantage of holiday breaks to complete mentoring hours, please plan ahead with your mentor. If you have any questions or concerns about your mentoring experience, please contact: ywl@wlfdesert.org 6
SCHOLARSHIP INFORMATION FOR MENTORED SENIORS OneFuture Coachella Valley Pathways to Success, a division of the Coachella Valley Economic Partnership, is the scholarship administrator for both need-based and meritbased scholarships offered through the Women Leaders Forum of the Desert. The specific information and requirements for scholarship application are listed below. All applications for scholarships are made through OneFuture. Students who do not meet the scholarship requirements for a OneFuture needs-based scholarship may still apply through OneFuture for a merit-based scholarship. For more information regarding the OneFuture Coachella Valley Pathways to Success scholarship and assistance with the program application, please contact scholarships@onefuturecv.org. You must complete the entire application before the deadline. Scholarship Awards per Academic Year: Up to $5,000 for 4-Year Colleges/Universities Up to $2,500 for 2-Year Community Colleges Scholarship Requirements: Permanent resident of the Coachella Valley over the past 3 years Attended a California high school for a minimum of 3 years and graduated or completed a GED in the state of California Apply for federal financial aid using the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) or DREAM act (as applicable) Must demonstrate financial need (as identified by academic institutions & FAFSA) Must be pursuing a bachelor or associates degree at an accredited college, university, or academic institution in the U.S. A minimum 2.0 GPA in college/university is required and continued full-time enrollment throughout the academic year 7
TO APPLY FOR SCHOLARSHIPS, PLEASE VISIT: WWW.CVPTS.COM Please be prepared to submit digital copies of the following: 2017-2018 Student Aid Report (SAR) from FAFSA 2 letters of recommendation Copy of unofficial transcripts An essay of 1000 words or less Application Deadline: March 17, 2018. 8
BRINGING YOUR BEST SELF The Mentoring Program has been developed to provide seniors with an opportunity to get an upclose view of their chosen career. As a participant in the Young Women Leaders Program, it s important that you embrace this opportunity to bring your best self to all events. This means giving some time and thought to how you dress and how you look. It doesn t need to cost a lot to dress well just the opposite. A few simple pieces of comfortable clothing and a couple pairs of basic shoes can be mixed and matched to create a professional wardrobe that is fitting for a Young Woman Leader. What might be acceptable to wear at school, at parties or in other social situations, is not necessarily appropriate in a professional setting or in the workplace. There are a few things to keep in mind when you dress for any of the YWL educational workshops or Mentor meetings: 1. Casual dress is okay for school, parties or other social situations but, not the workplace. Here are some examples of outfits you should avoid wearing at YWL events or mentor meetings: 2. Use your best judgment when dressing professionally. Here are some examples of outfits that you could definitely wear to any YWL event or mentor meeting: 9
BRINGING YOUR BEST SELF (CONTINUED) 3. Your choice of shoes is just as important as what you wear. Avoid extreme high heels or platform shoes, UGG-like boots, flip flops or athletic shoes. Professional shoes, first and foremost, should be comfortable with medium or low heels. Think about flats, pumps or sling-backs. Here are a few examples of perfect workplace shoes: 4. It s super important that you take the time to care for yourself. Body odor, dirty hair or fingernails, or bad breath may cause those around you to feel uncomfortable or distract from who you are professionally. Keep your make-up simple and light. And, be careful not to put on too much perfume or cologne, which can be distracting in a professional setting. 5. Piercings and tattoos are more common than ever and are becoming generally accepted in the workplace. However, there are some professions where tattoos and piercings are not desirable it s really up to the discretion of workplace management to decide. If you have tongue or nose piercings, we recommend that you remove them for YWL events and mentor meetings. If it s possible, keep any tattoos that you may have under wraps. 10
Tracking Mentor Hours Seniors must complete and submit all mentoring hours online at www.ywldesert.org. Your mentors will approve the submitted hours after each one-on-one meeting you have. In order to be eligible for a scholarship, all 10 mentoring hours must be completed, entered into the website, and approved by April 6, 2018. Be sure you allow enough time for your mentor to approve the hours we recommend completing this as soon as you are able. Please email ywl@wlfdesert.org if there are any problems with online submission of mentoring hours. Complete and keep for your records: Your Mentor is: Email: Phone: Job Location: First Meeting Date: 11