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About The nugget. (Sisters, Or.) 1994-current | View Entire Issue (Jan. 11, 2017)
Wednesday, January 11, 2017 The Nugget Newspaper, Sisters, Oregon 21 Heart of Oregon mentors find satisfaction in giving back By Sue Stafford Correspondent An educator for 45 years, Greg Pozovich feels right at home mentoring teens who are part of the Heart of Oregon YouthBuild program. Over the past two years, he has done one-on-one mentor- ing with four boys, as well as group mentoring. After serving as a mentor for eight years in the ASPIRE program at the high school, Pozovich was looking for a new challenge in a different environment. “I had a rough grow- ing up in Chicago. If not for the help I received, I prob- ably wouldn’t be where I am today. Mentoring is my way of giving back,” Pozovich shared. I had a rough growing up in Chicago. If not for the help I received, I probably wouldn’t be where I am today. — Greg Pozovich His interactions with his mentees involve many differ- ent activities. For one young man, who wants to be an architect, Pozovich arranged an opportunity for him to shadow an architect to see first-hand what is involved. Pozovich also helps out during class time and accom- panies the students during their lunchtime walks. He has driven a boy to Redmond to take his GED test. He says he does a lot of listening when students need to talk. “I have the ability to lis- ten without judging or giving advice,” Pozovich said. He estimates he spends five to 10 hours a week in the program, although men- tors are only required to meet at least four hours a month minimum with their mentee. They can also sign up for an AmeriCorps mentoring which is 26 hours a month, which works out to one day a week. “Our program is a group mentoring model for the first three months,” explained Amanda Jamison, leader- ship coordinator for the pro- gram. “Mentors interact with students at our Cloverdale school. Once they are matched after the first three months, they can meet out- side of program.” Not all students get a one-on-one mentor, but all students benefit from group mentoring. Pozovich is still in touch with one of his YouthBuild graduates. “We have coffee about once a month and I am there for him both by phone and in person,” he said. Pozovich said that for stu- dents considered at-risk, the YouthBuild program is “one of the best programs I’ve seen.” Students are spread out in different locations depending on what phase of the program they are in. They start out at the Cloverdale School. Some are in the annex in Redmond learning construction, and some are on a building site constructing homes. Some of the students will be working on the new Quality Truck-mounted Offering Aveda ™ Skin & Body Care! CARPET CLEANING Quality Cleaning 16 years in Reasonable Prices Sisters! — Credit Cards Accepted — ENVIROTECH 541-771-5048 Habitat for Humanity homes in Village Meadows in Sisters. They help out every year putting up the tents and moving easels for the Country Fair at the Episcopal Church of the Transfiguration, and erecting the main tent for the Sisters Folk Festival. Pozovich would recom- mend being a mentor with Heart of Oregon Corps “if a person understands going in that these kids are different.” He enjoys his mentoring. “I make a difference in their lives.” Jamison pointed out that mentors receive exten- sive training when work- ing with their population of young people. They receive about four hours of train- ing on boundaries, trauma, YouthBuild programming, mandatory reporting, and screening. “We have monthly check- ins with mentors at our men- tor coffee clatter. At this time, we discuss what’s going well and what could be improved. We also do more trainings, if needed, at our monthly meet- ings,” Jamison added. Mentors help out with service projects in the com- munity, tutoring in the class- room, goal-setting with stu- dents, and participating on the construction jobsite if they want to. “Our mentors become an integral component in the success of our youth, as well as ongoing support beyond the program in order to ensure their continued educational, personal, and professional success,” Jamison said. Signe Johnson, a retired training and organizational development manager with hair | massage | nails facials | makeup Licensed • Bonded • Insured • CCB#181062 541-549-1784 RESIDENTIAL • COMMERCIAL 161-C N. Elm St. We Respond when you call us. Your local Sisters contractor for: PHOTO PROVIDED Signe Johnson is a mentor with Heart of Oregon. the State of Oregon, was drawn to the Heart of Oregon program because it has an excellent success rate. “I wanted to make a vol- unteer contribution that would directly impact peo- ple’s lives,” she explained. I get a tremendous sense of fulfillment from seeing the students grow and progress. — Signe Johnson Johnson brings patience, understanding, and a passion to change lives to her group and individual mentoring. “I am relationship-based, which allows me to men- tor at a personal level with the students. I have strong skills in the areas of inter- personal communication, Back by popular demand! 541-549-6977 www.banr.net scott@banr.net ccb#165122 $6 B ec u i r a g l e ! r Sp 1/4 lb. Burger & Fries! Monday thru Thursday 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Earthwork - Utilities - Grading hardscape - Rock Walls Residential & Commercial Banr Enterprises, llc role modeling, and teaching by example,” she said when asked what she brings to being a mentor. Johnson spends at least one day a week at the school, guiding, coaching, and tutor- ing students. She helps them with GED prep, writing and composition, and things like studying for their driver’s license test. “I get a tremendous sense of fulfillment from seeing the students grow and progress. I love being part of the Heart of Oregon Corps YouthBuild program. It is very much like a family.” Johnson concluded by saying, “The most important thing that I have learned from working with the students is that patience and persistence really pays off.” For more information about being a mentor with Heart of Oregon Corps, con- tact Amanda Jamison at 541-526-1380 or amanda. jamison@heartoforegon.org. SOUP OF THE DAY January 11th - January 17th Sat.......Navy Wed ............... Mexican Chicken Sat Navy Bean with w Ham Thurs ..........................Beef Stew Sun ....................Minestrone Fri .. 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