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OFE News Release

Internationally Recognized Mentoring Expert to Address Public Education Leaders, Youth Advocates

October 2, 2006
OKLAHOMA CITY -- Susan Weinberger, an author and internationally known consultant on youth mentoring, will deliver the keynote address Tuesday, Oct. 24, at the 18th annual Fall Forum for Local Education Foundations, sponsored by the Oklahoma Foundation for Excellence.

Weinberger, also known as “Dr. Mentor,” will give the Fall Forum’s keynote address titled “Mentoring: A Sound Investment” at 12:30 p.m. in the ballroom of the Oklahoma Memorial Union, 900 Asp. Ave. She will also lead three mentoring-track sessions: “Mentoring 101: How to Begin a Mentoring Program” at 9 a.m., “Recruiting Volunteers and Marketing Your Mentoring Program” at 10:10 a.m. and “Sustaining Your Mentoring Program” at 11:20 a.m.

Weinberger’s Fall Forum appearance, sponsored by OG&E, supports the foundation’s new David and Molly Boren Mentoring Initiative to promote the growth and development of school-based mentoring programs in Oklahoma’s public schools.

“We are delighted to feature Susan Weinberger as our keynote speaker at this year’s Fall Forum,” said Jennifer Geren, director of the David and Molly Boren Mentoring Initiative. “Dr. Weinberger’s knowledge and experience in creating successful mentoring programs will be a wonderful resource to local education foundations, school administrators, mentoring programs and other youth advocates seeking to start or strengthen mentoring in their communities.”

A recipient of President Clinton’s Volunteer Action Award for her work in mentoring, Weinberger is the president and founder of the Mentor Consulting Group based in Norwalk, Conn. She is chair of the Public Policy Council for MENTOR/National Mentoring Partnership and founder of its Technical Assistance Corps. In addition, Weinberger has been a consultant for the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Programs, Department of Labor, Housing and Urban Development, and the Connecticut Mentoring Partnership, among others.
Weinberger is the author of several publications on mentoring, including “Mentoring A Movement: My Personal Journey” which will be available for sale during the Fall Forum.

The Fall Forum is the centerpiece of the foundation’s Local Education Foundation Outreach Program and provides a one-of-a-kind networking and training opportunity for foundation volunteers, school administrators, mentoring advocates and educators from throughout Oklahoma. In addition to offering sessions on mentoring, the forum features concurrent tracks on board development, fundraising, spotlight programs and teacher enrichment.

Fall Forum registration is $50 in advance and $60 after Oct. 9. For the first time this year, college students may attend the forum sessions for free, but must pay $20 if they plan to attend the luncheon. Luncheon-only registration is $20. For more information or a registration form, visit the foundation’s Web site, www.ofe.org, or call (405) 236-0006.