February 2009 - Junior League of Minneapolis

Community
JLM BREAKFAST BUDDIES:
A SMALL GROUP MAKING A BIG IMPACT
By Anne Salmen, Breakfast Buddies Chair
ach month, nearly a dozen members of the JLM’s Breakfast Buddies committee revisit the trials and
E tribulations of life’s most awkward and challenging years by returning – willingly – to junior high
school. The Breakfast Buddies program pairs JLM and community volunteers with seventh and eighth
grade girls at St. Louis Park Junior High School in a year-long mentoring program.
Monthly mentoring sessions serve up much more than just early-morning breakfast. They provide an
opportunity for mentors to consistently connect with and inspire a small group of young women at a
critical point in their academic careers. Throughout the year, speaker sessions and discussions enable
mentors to forge meaningful relationships while serving as role models in team building, goal
development and career exploration exercises.
The fall curriculum included a “Get Acquainted” session in October, an activity-focused session on
“Team Building” in November and a December session themed around “Celebrating Friendship.” Most recently, the students and mentors visited
the Minnesota Public Radio (MPR) headquarters in downtown St. Paul for a tour that included a behind-the-scenes look at the workings (and
careers) that keep the MPR stations humming around the clock. Several tour groups even had the opportunity to visit with an on-air DJ from the
Current (89.3 FM). In the coming weeks, students and mentors will take another career exploration field trip to a college campus and will participate
in sessions that focus on body image/self-confidence, careers and goal-setting.
As a relatively small project in the JLM portfolio, Breakfast Buddies still boasts a sizable impact in lives touched. More than 350 girls have been part
of the program since its inception in 2003.
The search for confidence and acceptance in the social and academic universe can be challenging for teenage girls. Thanks to the JLM and dedicated
community volunteers, Breakfast Buddies provides meaningful, consistent support and encouragement as well as exposure to new experiences
that just might inspire tomorrow’s female leaders to reach for the stars.
Junior League
members receive
California Closets
system.
February 28th,
2009.
14
californiaclosets.com 952.844.0004