For well over a decade, Harvard undergraduates have provided engaging, interdisciplinary mentoring to the youth of Allston-Brighton. Now, in addition to working with 3rd–8th graders, undergraduate Mentors are involved in all aspects of Harvard Ed Portal (HEP) programming for youth and adults, including the arts, digital literacy, health and wellness, workforce development, and college and career preparedness for middle school and high school students.
HEP Mentors develop their own curricula or collaborate with other undergraduates, graduate students from the Harvard School of Education, staff, or visiting experts (for example, an artist in residence). All Mentors meet regularly to learn about the art of teaching, and are expected to implement best teaching practices in their work and contribute to the HEP undergraduate community.
Each semester, approximately 25 Harvard College undergraduate students serve as Mentors at the Harvard Ed Portal located at 224 Western Avenue in Allston. Mentors fulfill an important community outreach role by working with Allston-Brighton children, teens, and adults from a variety of backgrounds. Mentors encourage children and teens to explore science, writing, public speaking, math, technology, and the arts; work with high school students on college and career preparation; and with adults on workplace skills.
Mentors are committed to the vision of the Ed Portal as a community of learning without limits, and strive to instill the understanding that learning is a lifelong endeavor, making a difference in the lives of students and adults who struggle in school, and offering inspiration and enrichment to all. In addition, Mentors are committed to consciously developing their own skills as educators and learners.
The Mentoring Program resides jointly with the Harvard Ed Portal and the Derek Bok Center for Teaching and Learning on campus. Under the direction of Assistant Director for Socially Engaged Learning, Susan L. Johnson, undergraduate Mentors create curricula, instruct, actively contribute to group discussions, and submit reflective writing about their experiences.
Most accepted undergraduates find the program to be personally rewarding and stay for many semesters, forming a meaningful community around teaching and learning.