The “OVER MY SHOULDER” Foundation is a unique media-based project whose goal is TO RAISE AWARENESS OF THE IMPACT OF MENTORING BOTH CROSS-CULTURALLY AND CROSS-GENERATIONALLY.
“Be the change. Mentor a child.”
President Barack Obama
As we all know, “Mentoring” is a catch phrase encompassing the positive relationships in our lives. “Mentoring”, in our eyes, is the most powerful tool in our fight against poverty, ignorance, and hatred.
Inspired by the lead song, “Over My Shoulder,” written by song-writer Dawn Carroll, Charlie Farren, Brynn Arens and Barry Orms and performed by Grammy Award Winner Patti Austin and her “Mentee”, Lianna Gutierrez, the foundation was formed to cultivate the “Art of Mentoring” or “Mentorology” through entertainment-driven products and events.
WHAT WILL WE ACHIEVE?
- Additional Funding to existing mentoring programs underfunded by the government cost-cutting measures in 2009.
- Self-empowerment programs such as “Power Girls.”
- After school programs for “at-risk” youths.
- Under-funded arts and music programs encouraging creativity.
- Development of educational programming, coined “Mentorology” to be utilized in corporations and institutions, such as universities.
- Creation of a “Mentorology” Speakers’ Series, featuring relevant mentoring stories, to be circulated through corporations, schools, and universities, emphasizing “the art of turning apathy into action.”
- Completion of a “Mentoring” documentary by award winning film-maker, Andrew Shapter, to be distributed in coordination with other mentoring efforts.
- Creation of an 0n-line Mentoring umbrella with up to date mentoring resources and relevant PSAs.
HOW TO DO IT?
- Develop both corporate and institutional sponsors which will jointly fund varying mentor initiatives. The corporations and institutions, such as hospitals and universities, will, in turn, benefit from a marketed mentoring education program, called “Mentorology”, an in depth teaching tool.
- Create a book series and partner with companies like Award Winning “Fablevision.”
- Development of a concert series celebrating “National Mentoring Month”, featuring celebrities and music artists famous for their involvement in mentoring.
- Creation of a merchandising group offering bracelets, t-shirts, and other products, promoting “Mentorology.”
- Release of the song “Over My Shoulder” written by Dawn Carroll, Charlie Farren, Brynn Arens and Barry Orms and performed by Patti Austin and Lianna Guterriez.
- Individual fund-raising initiatives.
“Our goal is to break down barriers that separate generations of people and cultures. Through mentoring, we all are increasingly interdependent on each other, rather than independent individuals. And, because of people’s interdependency, the foundation hopes to foster respect, diversity, culture, and individuality.”
Patti Austin
