
What is mentorship at Big Picture Philadelphia?
- Cultivating a relationship with a student interested in learning about your industry
- Meeting regularly with both student-intern and their advisor
- Attending exhibitions
- Co-developing projects
- Sharing resources and other skills
Who can and should mentor a student-intern? Community members who are professionals looking for opportunities to share their knowledge of their specific careers and who are invested in supporting the growth of youth in Philadelphia.
Why become a Big Picture Philadelphia mentor?
- Professional and personal fulfillment: Gain recognition as an industry expert and leader.
- Make an impact: Expose youth to new experiences and potential career opportunities.
- Expand your business/organization: Develop the foundation for growth in your organization by
training tomorrow’s workforce.
When do mentors host student-interns? Internships at Vaux are scheduled during the school day because they are an essential part of the student’s learning experience. Students attend their internships Tuesdays and Thursdays. In general, an internship lasts at least three months, although good internships may last until the end of the school year and beyond.
How does BPP support mentors? Each student-intern has an advisor (a certified classroom teacher) who serves as an academic and social-emotional guide throughout the student’s tenure at Vaux. The advisor is the mentor’s “point person,” too, and will contact the mentor every internship day and visit at least once a month. Advisors support mentors in understanding their student-intern’s learning style, in developing project work, and in student-intern accountability. Advisors are also troubleshooters and can help brainstorm solutions to any problem that arises, including how to challenge and engage an intern on a daily basis.
A note on safety: Students are insured through the school! We carry accident and liability insurance and require that mentors take potential interns on a walkthrough of the worksite at the outset of an internship. We also arrange for all mentors to get a Childline clearance and a state background check.
For more information or to get involved contact the department of Real World Learning at either school.
Vaux BPHSTia Hall: Director of RWL,
thall@bigpicturephiladelphia.orgAlexis Bradford: Program Associate,
abradford@bigpicturephiladelphia.org
El Centro de Estudiantes
Nina Bilynsky-Ristics: Director of RWL,
nbilynsky@elcentrobpp.org