Fall 2019

Hello MEGA Mentors and Supporters!

We hope this newsletter finds you in good health and spirits. Here's what's been happening with MEGA since the Spring 2019 newsletter.

MEGA Celebrates 10 Years of Service and Excellence

MEGA is proud to celebrate 10 years of service and dedication to underrepresented Chesterfield County Public School students. We will continue highlighting this milestone throughout the year at our events and student field trips.

Coming soon! Check MEGA's Website to order your own 10th Anniversary Polos and T-shirts!

Save The Date for FABS!

The 9th Annual Fine Art & Benefit Sale (FABS) is just around the corner! The 2020 FABS featured artist is Leroy Campbell.

Please save the date and look out for upcoming details for FABS and the Meet the Artist special event.

MEGA needs your help to solicit patron donations, souvenir journal ad sales and silent auction items. To help out immediately, please email info@megamentors.org.

Upcoming Orientation and Training

The next New Mentor Orientation and Training is Saturday, November 9 from 9:45 a.m. - 1:30 p.m. at the Dominion Energy Training Center in Chester. Breakfast will be served before training begins.

Please join us if you're new to MEGA or would like a refresher! Click on the RSVP button below to register and get additional information.

Please RSVP by Monday, November 4.

RSVP For Training

Comedian Micah "Bam-Bamm" White hosted a MEGA Mentors edition of Family Feud during MEGA's Annual Membership Meeting Sept. 17, 2019. Photo by Misha King.

Members Attend Annual Meeting, Enjoy Comedy

Over 70 members attended MEGA's Annual Meeting Sept. 17 at John Tyler Community College Midlothian Campus. Members learned about MEGA's past school year accomplishments and goals for the current school year.

Several VIPs attended the session and addressed the membership. Edward "Ted" Raspillar, Ph.D., President of John Tyler, extended an invitation for next year's annual meeting to be held at the newly renovated conference center at the Chester campus. Bill Fiege, Ph.D., John Tyler's Vice President of Academic Affairs spoke about the importance of the two organizations' relationship. Mervin Daugherty, Ph.D., Chesterfield County Public Schools Superintendent, spoke about the value of mentoring and the positive impact of MEGA in Chesterfield County Public Schools. Tyren Frazier, Chesterfield Education Foundation Executive Director, highlighted the 10 year partnership between CEF and MEGA and the ongoing support to help students succeed.

Comedian Micah "Bam-Bamm" White hosted a MEGA Mentors edition of the Family Feud game show where attendees learned about MEGA in a fun-charged environment.

Members enjoyed a delicious buffet meal prepared by Chef Keith Rivers of Food U Can Choose, who has catered the event for the past few years.

"This was one of our most successful annual meetings yet," said C. Dalesa Mack-Grisby, co-chair of the Membership & Training Committee. "Members had a fun time learning about MEGA and enjoyed a great meal. We're extremely grateful for Micah's comedic and Chef Rivers' culinary talents."

To view more pictures from this and other MEGA events, visit the MEGA website gallery.

Members listen to guest speakers at MEGA's Annual Membership Meeting Sept. 17, 2019. Photo by Misha King.

Food U Can Choose catered the Annual Membership Meeting Sept. 17, 2019. Photo by Misha King.

Christy Coleman, CEO of the American Civil War Museum in Richmond, was the guest speaker at the 2019 Excellence Awards and Recognition Celebration held May 30, 2019. Photo by Jadien Jones.

Recognition Celebration Honors Outstanding Students, Members

Over 350 students, family members, school officials and MEGA members attended the 2019 Excellence Awards and Recognition Celebration was held May 30. This year's guest speaker was Ms. Christy Coleman, the current CEO of the American Civil War Museum in Richmond. Ms. Coleman engaged the crowd with stories of her struggles in deciding a career path and starting over several times before she found her passion in history.

"It's okay if you don't know what you want to do right now," said Coleman while specifically addressing the students. "Enjoy your youth. Take your time and find your passion. It's okay to change your mind along the way."

Kevin Nicholson, a MEGA board member and integral member of the Events Committee, was honored when Ms. Coleman accepted his request to be the guest speaker at this year's event.
"Although I know Ms. Coleman personally, I was still intrigued when she shared her journey with the audience," said Nicholson. "Her message will inspire the young men and women to not settle for a job or career that does not excite them, but instead seek to find their passion."

Here are the 2019 Award Winners:

Students of the Year for Carver MS
6th Grade: Kyheem Lawson and Timara Jones
7th Grade: Asia Kelson and Jahsai Fife
8th Grade: Tre’mya Conner and Kymonte Moore

Students of the Year for Falling Creek MS
6th Grade: Aniya Walker and Rah’Jeem Moore
7th Grade: Brianna Hollingsworth Kidd and Kevin Ortiz
8th Grade: Catherine Dixon and Jake Martinez

Students of the Year for Manchester MS
6th Grade: Inaisia Washington and Dustin Jewell
7th Grade: Erica Lara Mateo and Amer Abdallah
8th Grade: Elizabeth Bonilla and Jayden Bland

Students of the Year for Providence MS
6th Grade: Bradley Chase-Cobbs and Jayde Brooks
7th Grade: Orion Solomon and Jasmine Greenidge
8th Grade: Timothy Micah Weathers and Nailah Pegram

Students of the Year for Salem Church MS
7th Grade: Ashley Almonte-Pichardo, Dresean Lancester and Craig Taylor

Students of the Year for 360 Academy
8th Grade: Anai’Jah Harris and Lester Machan

Students of the Year for CTC – Courthouse Phoenix Center
Jason Franco and Kailyn Perdomo

Students of the Year for Meadowbrook HS
9th Grade: Dawnasia Deaderick
10th Grade: Foxi White and Josiah Johnson
11th and 12th Grade: Taniah Berry, Kenneth Hayes and Haley Stewart

School Coordinator of the Year
Maia Johnson – Carver Middle School

Female Mentor of the Year
Delores Taylor – Falling Creek Middle School

Male Mentor of the Year
Gregory Hillman – Manchester Middle School

Community Partner of the Year
Second Baptist Church – Chester, Virginia

MEGA School of the Year
Providence Middle School

Award winners pose for a group photo at the 2019 Excellence Awards and Recognition Celebration held May 30, 2019. Photo by Jadien Jones.

MEGA Members pose for a group photo at the 2019 Excellence Awards and Recognition Celebration May 30, 2019. Photo by Jadien Jones.

Meadowbrook HS Student Graduates VCU

Congratulations to former MEGA Mentors student Kaytlin Nickens on graduating from VCU! Kaytlin was one of MEGA's outstanding mentees from Meadowbrook High School. We are so proud of you!!

Former MEGA Mentors student Kaytlin Nickens poses with family and friends after her graduation ceromony at Virginia Commonwealth University in May 2019. Courtesy photo.

MEGA Mentor Kevin Nicholson addresses a group of Meadowbrook High School students April 11, 2019. Courtesy photo.

Financing the Future with Knowledge

MEGA Mentor Kevin Nicholson spoke with students at Meadowbrook on April 11 as part of MEGA's Speakers' Bureau program. Mr. Nicholson spoke about his life's journey, not being afraid to fail, saving money and careers in financial management.

Mr. Nicholson is chief market strategist at RiverFront Investment Group in Richmond.

MEGA Mentor Kevin Nicholson addresses a group of Meadowbrook High School students April 11, 2019. Courtesy photo.

A group of Meadowbrook High School students listen to MEGA Mentor Kevin Nicholson speak about his life and career path April 11, 2019. Courtesy photo.

MEGA HS Students Tour UR, Black History Museum

Boarding the chartered bus at Academy 360, Jiad Lawrence seemed to be the spokesman for his fellow high school students Isabelle, Eduardo and Catalina. They were on their way to the University of Richmond and the Black History Museum and Cultural Center of Virginia along with 28 other MEGA Mentors participants and chaperones.

MEGA Mentors sponsored the annual merit trip on April 10 for over 20 students from Chesterfield Career and Technical Center at Hull (Academy 360) and Meadowbrook High School to experience UR and the museum. At their first stop at UR’s Queally Center, administrations intern Cady Green addressed academic, financial and graduation aspects the university could offer. A campus guide then took the group on a detailed tour of the UR facilities where the students gained a general understanding of the school’s advantages.

After lunch in the campus dining facilities, the students headed to the Black History Museum and Cultural Center of Virginia where Ms. Adele Johnson, the museum’s executive director, greeted them with an overview of the center. As the students walked the galleries and studied the various displays and paintings, they gained a better understanding of the footprint African Americans made on the capital city’s history.

MEGA Mentors high school students listen to campus guide Charlotte Bednarski explain the purpose of the University of Richmond’s Gottwald Center during their annual merit field trip Apr. 10, 2019. Courtesy photo.

MEGA students attend an information session at J. Sargeant Reynolds Community College Apr. 15, 2019, as part of the program's annual merit trip. Courtesy photo.

MS Students Visit JSRCC, Monticello

MEGA middle school students embarked on their annual merit trip Apr. 15. During their excursion, the students visited J. Sargeant Reynolds Community College where they learned about their academic options after high school. The group also traveled to Charlottesville where they visited Monticello, the primary plantation of Thomas Jefferson, the third President of the United States.

The annual middle and high school trips are part of MEGA's mission reward student achievement and expose them to experiential activities to broaden their perspectives. To participate, students must meet or exceed goals regarding attendance, grades and disciplinary actions.

MEGA students pose outside Monticello Apr. 15, 2019, as part of the program's annual merit trip. Courtesy photo.

MEGA Recruiting Efforts Continue

MEGA Mentors' Recruiting Committee is dedicated to providing classroom mentors at the eight schools it services. MEGA is extremely grateful to our local churches and other organizations for their support toward this effort.

If you are aware of any local organizations, such as businesses or churches, who are willing to help mentor Chesterfield County students, please have them contact MEGA Mentors at: info@megamentors.org.

MEGA Needs Committee Members!

MEGA is also actively seeking volunteers for its committees:

1.	Communication & Technology (website, social media, internal and external communication, FABS tech support)

2.	Events (FABS, field trips, recognition event, etc.)

Finance

4.	Fundraising & Development

5.	Membership & Training

6.	Programs & Curriculum

7.	Recruiting

If you're interested in joining and aren't already a member, please fill out a membership application online at www.MEGAMentors.org. If you're already a member, please contact us at membership@megamentors.org.

Links to Learning

The Virginia Mentoring Partnership is a Friend of MEGA and provides a wealth of information to help our mentors sharpen their skills. Below are links to helpful videos and podcasts.

Recorded Webinars:
Mentoring Youth in Foster Care: Considerations and Strategies

Mentoring Immigrant Youth: Supportive Relationships for Newcomer Youth

Learning from Successful Efforts to Integrate Social & Emotional Learning in Afterschool

Recorded Podcasts and Lectures:
Reflections On Research Series: Episode 2
Listen as Dr. Edward Latessa discusses key findings from his team’s study of mentoring services for youth on parole and probation in Ohio and learn about how the youth mentoring field aligns, and sometimes doesn’t, with the broader research on what prevents criminality and recidivism.

How Childhood Trauma Affects Health Across a Lifetime
Pediatrician Nadine Burke Harris explains that the repeated stress of abuse, neglect and parents struggling with mental health or substance abuse issues has real, tangible effects on the development of the brain.

Upcoming Events 2019-2020

▪	November 21: CEF BRAVO! Award Dinner

▪	January 16: Meet the FABS Featured Artist Special Event

▪	January 17: Fine Art Benefit & Sale (FABS)

▪	January 18: Freedom Classic

▪	March: MEGA Golf Tournament

▪	April: Walk a Mile Field Trip

▪	May 28: MEGA Excellence Awards and Recognition Celebration

Visit MEGA Mentors' website event calendar for more events and updates.