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Hennepin Connections
Mentoring, Achieving, Growing

Program Mission:

The Hennepin Connections Mentorship Program provides mentors to students who have experienced homelessness or poverty, in order to provide support and encouragement to reach personal, academic, and career goals. The Basilica SVdP Mentoring Program works with Minneapolis Community & Technical College.

The goal of Hennepin Connections is:

• To expand student’s network for career development
• To expand student’s opportunities for success
• To provide scholarship at program completion

Mentoring is a structured, one-to-one relationship that focuses on the needs of mentored participants. Mentoring:

• Fosters caring and supportive relationships
• Encourages individuals to develop to their fullest potential
• Helps an individual to develop his or her own vision for the future
• Is a strategy to develop active community partnerships

Mentoring is not a one-size fits all proposition.

• Every person who would benefit from a mentoring relationship has individual needs. Effective mentoring programs offer enough flexibility to help meet each mentee’s personal needs, yet allow mentoring relationships to flourish within a safe structure.

Hennepin Connections Students:

Qualities of Strong Student Applicants include:

• Students actively engaged in class, enrolled in a minimum of 6 credits at beginning of the year.
• Students who show a commitment and desire to move forward in life.
• Students who can set, share, and implement educational and career goals.

Student Application Process:

Any Minneapolis College Student interested in joining the Hennepin Connections Mentoring Program should begin by emailing Janice Anderen to receive on-line application. 

• Application process will be explained and implemented--wtih acceptance into the Hennepin Conenctions Mentoring Program completed by mid-summer 2022.

Becoming a Hennepin Connections Mentor:

The process of orientation, training, and support for becoming a Hennepin Connections mentor includes:

• One-on-one interview with Basilica staff
• Completion of background check and Virtus Training
• Participation in a Poverty Simulation Experience
• Participation in training and orientation sessions
• Participation in three large-group sessions throughout the school year, with all mentors and all students
• Commitment to connect with student every week, at least two times a month in person
• Participation in Mentor Reflection Meetings three times throughout the school year

Overall Program Description:

1. This program is designed to focus on students who have, or have had, experiences of homelessness or poverty.
2. This program is designed to help Minneapolis College Students fulfill their educational goals, to enable them to successfully achieve their career goals.
3. This program is not a religious program. While the mentors are from The Basilica, the student and mentor will connect on issues relevant to the student.
4. This program is inclusive of all students’ backgrounds and faith affiliations.
5. The Student will be matched with a Basilica Mentor by the faculty and staff of MCTC.
6. The mentoring partnership will last for one full school year at MCTC, from Fall through Spring semester.
7. The mentoring partnership will be based on shared interests, career similarities, or other goal orientation similarities.
8. The student will guide the agenda of the meetings.

If you are interested in being part of the program, contact Janice. 

MCTC Mentor Visit Record
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Since 1995, The Basilica has worked on Habitat for Humanity houses throughout our community, helping to make the joy and stability of home ownership a reality for local families. The Basilica has partnered with Twin Cities Habitat For Humanity by sponsoring a week-long annual “work camp.” Every summer, the Basilica provides a sponsorship fee and volunteers each day for five days to work on a home. Throughout the past two decades, the Basilica team has taken part in building a variety of home types including townhomes, duplexes, and single-family dwellings. 

Volunteers who participate in the “work camp” are treated to complimentary breakfast and lunch each day, provided by generous donors, and many volunteers return year after year. Basilica teams have been instrumental helping local families achieve their dream of affordable home ownership. Basilica groups have also played a significant role in assisting to re-build areas of north Minneapolis that were damaged by the devastating tornado which hit the region several years ago. 

Within the Habitat “work camp” there are volunteer activities for everyone of all ages—those 16 and up are welcomed to build. No experience with construction is required—we’ll train you and you may work at your own comfort level. Anyone of any age can help to greet the builders and/or make/serve snacks or breakfast/lunch. 

Prisoners or Patients? is a group of volunteers who come together to discuss issues around when the criminal justice and mental health systems connect.  The group is made up of members of The Basilica’s Mental Health Ministry, its Voices of Justice Ministry, and the larger Twin Cities community.  The committee has worked in partnership with NAMI-MN, Minnesota DHS, Hennepin Healthcare, Minnesota State Legislators, Amicus, Minneapolis College, and other organizations. Begun in 2017, this task force has provided educational programming, advocacy efforts, and resource development for the parish and the community at large. 

In late 2019, Prisoners or Patients was charged with developing a mentor program for those leaving prison with mental health concerns.  The Prisoners or Patients Mentorship Program will link mentors of The Basilica of Saint Mary in partnership with re-entering citizens identified by either the Minnesota Department of Corrections or Hennepin County Department of Community Corrections and Rehabilitation. The trained mentors will accompany the participants re-entering the community, who are struggling with mental health challenges, and who have expressed a desire for a spiritual connection.  These mentors will walk with the participants and help them access resources that will decrease their isolation and assist them as they re-engage and re-connect within the community.  

Monthly meetings currently take place on the 3rd Thursday of each month from 1:00-2:30 pm.  For more information, contact Janet Grove.

Individual Session Form

Mentor Application Form