Mentoring-2-Excellence (M2E) Program

Applications for Spring 2023 M2E closed on February 3, 2023.

Did you know there is another option for Greater Minnesota interpreters to receive free mentoring?

Have you considered joining the Mentoring-to-Excellence Program in the past but didn’t have time to commit to assignments and group sessions? Are you interested in receiving free mentoring sessions with Deaf and hearing mentors? If you are an interpreter living in Greater Minnesota* looking for additional support around freelance community interpreting, sign up to receive 16 free mentoring sessions!

Registration will open on January 23th. This program runs from February 6th – May 26th. Qualifying applicants can register up until May 1st.

Application for Self-Paced Mentoring

Meet Our Mentors!

* Eligibility requirements have changed! If you are an interpreter working but not living in Greater MN, click here to learn more.

Image of MN State outline on a white background with a gray circle. The seven county metro is outlined in gray, while the remaining image is in teal. The teal color represents Greater MN; the area in which the grant serves.

M2E is a program designed to improve communication access across Greater Minnesota! Interpreters have the opportunity to work with a wide variety of experienced Deaf and hearing mentors throughout our sixteen-week program. These sessions aim to build interpreters’ confidence and skills when accepting a wide variety of community assignments.

Through virtual mentoring sessions, interpreters have the opportunity to work on various interpreting skills in a structured, supportive environment.

Mentoring-2-Excellence is a FREE program offered only to interpreters who reside in Greater Minnesota!

Mentoring Resources

Resources

The Mentoring-2-Excellence Program is a statewide interpreter mentoring program!

This program is crucial to increasing interpreters’ confidence and skills in freelance settings.

⭐ Mentoring sessions are 100% virtual.

⭐ Work with interpreters, colleagues, and Deaf individuals outside of your local community.

⭐ Build your toolkit with interpreting materials and resources.

⭐ Develop long-lasting relationships and support!

⭐ Receive detailed feedback on your interpreting skills at the beginning and end of the program!

⭐ FREE access to all of ASLIS’ Wednesday Workshops throughout the duration of the program!

⭐ Community of Practice Sessions with Jen Hayes

⭐ Group mentoring sessions hosted by ASLIS mentors

Mentor or Apprentice?

Mentor

Are you passionate about fostering interpreters’ confidence and skills? Do you demonstrate mentoring qualifications in:

English-to-ASL interpreting?
ASL-to-English interpreting?
ASL production?
affect?
fingerspelling?
cultural mediation?

ASLIS is seeking mentors who are highly qualified and have a background in working with interpreters to develop their skills and confidence to increase the number of qualified interpreters in Greater Minnesota.

Learn More!

Apply!

Apprentice

Are you an interpreter wanting to increase your confidence and skills when accepting community assignments? Do you want to polish up your skills in a particular community setting? Are you a(n):

educational interpreter?
non-certified interpreter?
certified interpreter?

This program is offered for free for all interpreters who reside in Greater Minnesota!

Learn More!

Apply!

Meet Jen Hayes, your Community of Practice Coach!

Video for Mentors

Video for Mentees

FAQs

Is this free mentoring for everyone?

The Mentoring-2-Excellence Program is provided by ASLIS and is supported by grant funding from the Minnesota Department of Human Services, Deaf and Hard of Hearing Services Division. Therefore, this program is offered for free for non-certified, educational, and certified interpreters who reside in Greater MN.

What defines Greater MN?

Greater MN is defined as any counties located outside of the seven-county metro. Counties that are excluded from being considered Greater MN are: Ramsey, Washington, Hennepin, Dakota, Scott, Anoka, Carver.

What is a Community of Practice?

A Community of Practice is a group of professionals with a shared interest, who come together to share information, resources, and engage in conversation. The goal for a person who joins a Community of Practice is to strengthen skills, knowledge, and the network of professionals they can turn to for support, validation, and information. Ultimately, every Community of Practice generates new knowledge together that can be applied to each individual’s professional practice.

What are ASLIS Mentee Community of Practices sessions all about?

As anyone who has been a mentee knows that the process can be vulnerable and challenging, especially when you haven’t explored how your mindset impacts interpreting work. The aim of the sessions offered to mentees is to provide a safe space for mentees to explore strategies through activities and dialogue that increase confidence and risk-taking in the mentoring process. The facilitator also ensures that interpreter mentees are able to find connections with other interpreters through shared experiences.

M2E Program Features

M2E Program runs between 15-20 weeks

This program offers up to 16 free mentoring one-to-one mentoring sessions.

Virtual Mentoring

All sessions take place virtually! This allows for mentors and apprentices to meet one another from various areas that they may not have had the opportunity to work with before.

Virtual Group Mentoring Sessions

Meet your cohort, set expectations, and share useful tools, all with the guidance and support of hearing and Deaf mentors.

Pre- and Post-Skills Assessments

Apprentices will complete pre- and post-skills assessment to be best paired with a mentor. The feedback from these assessments will be used as a baseline to see where the apprentices’ strengths and areas of improvements are to enhance the mentoring time.

Testimonials

You get out of it what you put into it! It is for you to lead the bus.

Becky Manske

Northwest Apprentice - Spring 2020

Don’t be afraid to give it a chance. The mentors are here to help you and see you succeed.

Samantha Bailey

Northeast Apprentice - Spring 2020

I achieved, perhaps even went beyond my goals. I entered the program looking to work on my skills and what I found was not only skill improvement, but also increased confidence in my signing production and use of the language. My growth was not only in my skills, but also in my confidence in interpreting things that weren’t always in my comfort zone.

Becky Malcolm

Central Apprentice - Spring 2020

The mentors are amazing and will work with you and your goals. Try to identify what you want to work on and come with a plan. Then make the mentorship a priority. This is an amazing opportunity, make the best of it.

Jeannie Osburn

Northeast Apprentice - Spring 2020

Let your wall down and don’t be afraid to be vulnerable. If you’re open and willing to see your weaknesses and truly want to improve, you will be successful in the program and be able to meet your goals!

Sally Lunde

Northwest Apprentice - Spring 2020

The E2E program pushes you out of your comfort zone in order to guide you to growth. Every interpreter has room to grow, improve and reflect upon self with feedback. The mentors allow you a safe and supportive space to build you up whiling teaching and showing you what your needs for improvement are.

Jana Martin

Northwest Apprentice - Spring 2020

My advice would be to take advantage of the time you have with your mentors. They are experts in the subject matter and know how to push you and help develop your skills. Trust the process and give it all you’ve got.

Michelle Remer

Northwest Apprentice - Spring 2020

Do it!!! You will learn and grow! It is always good to keep practicing and improving. There is always something we can learn.

Kaitlyn Theisen

Northwest Apprentice - Spring 2020

The Mentoring-2-Excellence Program is provided by ASLIS and is supported by grant funding from the Minnesota Department of Human Services, Deaf and Hard of Hearing Services Division.