Michael D. Alston

Head Mentor

The Head Mentor serves as the operational lead and primary role model within the Focused Interruption. This individual is responsible for the holistic development of mentees, bridging the gap between personal growth, professional readiness, and community engagement. The Head Mentor not only facilitates one-on-one development but also manages the logistical and financial sustainability of the program through event planning and fundraising.

The Head Mentor is responsible for equipping participants with the tangible skills needed to succeed in the workforce.

• Resume Building: Conduct workshops and one-on-one reviews to assist mentees in crafting competitive resumes. Teach methods for translating life experiences into transferable professional skills.
• Job Training & Mock Interviews: Facilitate soft-skill training sessions (communication, time management) and specific job-readiness drills to prepare mentees for employment.
• Event Etiquette Training: instruct mentees on professional protocol, including networking strategies, dining etiquette, professional dress codes, and digital correspondence to ensure they represent themselves and the organization well.

The Head Mentor drives the personal growth strategy for the cohort.

• Goal Setting Facilitation: Lead structured goal-setting sessions using the SMART (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, Time-bound) framework.
• Progress Tracking: Schedule regular check-ins to monitor progress, identify barriers to success, and recalibrate goals as necessary.
• Conflict Resolution: Serve as the primary point of contact for interpersonal issues within the group, fostering a supportive and collaborative environment.

The Head Mentor ensures the program remains active, funded, and engaging.

• Large Group Activity Planning: Organize and execute large-scale team-building events, educational retreats, or community service days. This includes handling logistics, scheduling, transport, and risk management.
• Fundraising Strategy: Spearhead fundraising initiatives to support program activities. Responsibilities include brainstorming campaign ideas, organizing donor events, and managing outreach efforts.
• Budget Management: Assist in creating budgets for specific events and ensuring fundraising goals meet the financial needs of the planned activities.

• Experience: Previous experience in leadership, counseling, human resources, or education.
• Organizational Skills: Demonstrated ability to plan complex events and manage multiple administrative tasks simultaneously.
• Communication: Exceptional verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to provide constructive feedback diplomatically.
• Financial Literacy: Basic understanding of fundraising principles and budget management.
• Empathy & Patience: A strong desire to help others succeed and the patience to guide individuals through learning curves.

Success in this role will be measured by:

• Rate of mentees successfully placed in jobs or internships.
• Percentage of fundraising goals met or exceeded.
• Participant satisfaction scores regarding events and workshops.
• Completion rate of mentee goals set at the beginning of the term.

• Purpose of Position
  The purpose of the Student Engagement Specialist is to mentor an assigned caseload of students in comprehensive middle and high schools through a holistic mentoring approach, and to serve as an upward mobility opportunity for MMSD staff in entry-level positions who have been both reliable employees, trusted adults, and impactful with students. This work will advance engagement, anti-racism, and restorative justice efforts. The Student Engagement Specialist will mentor an assigned caseload of students, in order to cultivate belonging, social-emotional well-being, community readiness, and restorative values with a holistic approach. Their mentorship of students aligns with MMSD’s 3 goals of “community readiness,” “children, staff, and families thrive,” and “African American children and youth excel.” This will also serve as a non-certified, upward mobility opportunity for MMSD staff in entry level engagement positions who have been both reliable adults and impactful with students. This position is also an eligible candidate for MMSD’s Grow Your Own Program.

• Developed practice plans focusing on skill development and team cohesion.
• Evaluated player performance to identify strengths and areas for improvement.
• Led team meetings to discuss game strategies and player responsibilities.
• Coordinated with parents and staff to facilitate communication and support.
• Mentored assistant coaches on effective teaching techniques and player engagement.
• Organized seasonal training camps to enhance athlete conditioning and skills.
• Implemented game-day strategies to optimize team performance during competitions.

• The Service Facilitator provides a wide range of client-centered case management services and works with participants (ages 6-35) in reaching their recovery goals. Services provided may include the coordination of mental and/ or physical health care, assistance with housing, money management, medication management, coordination of substance abuse treatment, coordination of vocational and/ or education support, and assistance with activities of daily living.

• Assist Site Director with supervision of the middle school after school program. Duties may include scheduling, data entry, behavior management, youth programming as well as assisting with leading and supervising staff.