Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Who should attend?
A: Mentoring professionals from all levels are invited to participate in this interactive conference. In addition, all youth-serving and youth development professionals, including those who work with after-school and specialty programs, would benefit from sessions at the conference.
Q: What is offered?
A: The annual mentoring conference offers ten half-day pre-conference courses that provide intensive and specialized content in such subject areas as Mentoring 101, SAFE: Screening Volunteers Effectively, Mentor/Mentee Training, and Volunteer Recruitment. On the second day, the conference consists of twelve workshop sessions grouped in four thematic “tracks.” During our complimentary breakfast and lunch, be inspired by our two keynote presenters.
Q: Why should I attend?
The conference continues to be a source of inspiration and information to mentoring professionals and we strive to provide workshops that are useful and thought-provoking for the novice as well as those who have been in the field for years. By attending this conference, you will walk away with tools and strategies to improve your program, educate your staff, and better serve your community.
Q: Why is the conference divided between two locations?
A: To keep conference fees low, we rely on generous donations from sponsors, including Oracle. Oracle provides us with one day at their world-class Oracle Conference Center, so we are required to provide another nearby site that offers both meeting rooms and lodging accommodations for the other day. After several years of experimenting, we have decided that our conference and attendees are best served at the Sofitel San Francisco Bay, a top-rated hotel and meeting space that is less than a mile away from the Oracle Conference Center.
Q: What do past participants say?
A: Participants in the 2008 conference, Mentoring Youth: Defining the Difference it Makes, rated their overall experience 3.8 on a scale of 4. In addition, 100% of survey respondents would recommend this conference to others in the field.
Here’s what some of them had to say:
“Very pertinent information and applicable to my agency. I’m excited to implement these tools!”
“I attend a lot of conferences and I have learned more today than all the conferences combined.”
“Very good conference, great info, helpful, practical, and presenters were very warm and helpful.”
“Thank you! This is my favorite conference and one I look forward to each year.”
“Very impressed with content at the conference.”
“I am new to the process and learned so much today!”
“Each year re-energizes me to be with professionals and hear great presenters. Thanks!”
“Very well-organized. I most appreciate the useful practical info/tools shared.”
“Great morning keynote! Very touching – another great conference!”
Q: How did the annual mentoring conference develop?
A: Friends for Youth has been a sponsor of the annual Northern California Mentoring Conference since 2000. It has grown over the years to include presenters and participants from not only across California, but also the U.S. and the world. Since 2006, the conference expanded to include a selection of intensive pre-conference courses in addition to a full day of various workshops and keynote presentations, all based on improving participants’ knowledge of the field’s Recommended Best Practices.
