David Shapiro is President & CEO of the Mass Mentoring Partnership < org="">. Based in Boston, MMP is the only statewide organization solely dedicated to strategically expanding quality youth mentoring in Massachusetts. < />
As the umbrella organization for more than 165 mentoring programs across the state, Shapiro’s organization provides them with training, technical assistance, networking, advocacy, recruitment support and resources. MMP’s work with many of the state’s mentoring programs results in the formation of hundreds of constructive and supportive mentoring relationships each year.
If you, dear reader, would like to be a mentor of a 5 to 18 years old, email fsuarez@massmentors.org or call 617-695-1200.
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Why is David so devoted to mentoring?
Who or what inspired David to be so passionate about his chosen field, to lead an organization devoted to helping others become aware of and involved in mentoring? When I asked him why and whether it had anything to do with who mentored him, this is what David told me.
“I did not have one mentor,” he said. “I grew with an abundance of mentors – adults with time for me who encouraged me to reach out to them, to learn from them, to seek connections and development through them.
Because my family and other coaches left such a big imprint on me, that’s exactly why I am dedicated to expanding quality structured mentoring opportunities for youth in the Commonwealth.
Although I was born into a life path that was filled with mentors at every turn and through every structure; many of our state’s kids are not. Structured, quality mentoring programs can bring that additional adult into those children’s lives; adults who can act as non-judgmental friend and guide and who can pay undivided attention to them – that is the treasure of mentoring.”
Who is David mentoring now?
David currently mentors a young man named Keontai through Big Brothers Big Sisters of Mass Bay. Keontai lives a little over 1 mile from David’s house but is growing up in very different circumstances from David’s own children (Keontia is 11, David’s boys are 2 and 5).
“Mentoring Keontai,” David explained, “allows me to learn from him and his family.” Hmmm --- could it be that Keontai and his family are David’s mentors?
Who was your mentor?
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