Annual Mentoring Summit
Connect with fellow mentoring leaders, volunteers, and aspiring mentors as we learn, share ideas, and strengthen our programs together.
February 19, 2027
8 am-1pm
Cincinnati State Technical & Community College
3520 Central Pkwy, Cincinnati, OH 45223
Call for Keynote Speaker & Breakout Session Speaker Proposals
We invite you to submit a proposal for the keynote or Breakout Session Speaker for the 2027 We Mentor Cincy Summit, a full-day event with the theme: "Mirrors & Windows: Mentoring with Clarity and Compassion." The summit will explore how mentors can both reflect a mentee's potential back to them (the mirror) and open up new possibilities and perspectives (the window).
At the completion of the summit, the Keynote Speaker will receive and honorarium and the Breakout Session Speakers will receive a voluntary gesture of appreciation from WMC. Please reach out to cjordan@cycyouth.org for additional information.
Please read all requirements before submitting a proposal.
Keynote Speaker Requirements
Beyond Reflection: How to Be the Mirror and the Window Cincinnati's Youth Need Now
We Mentor Cincy seeks an engaging, knowledgeable, and action-oriented keynote speaker who can inspire mentoring professionals, community leaders, educators, and volunteers to deepen their impact on young people.
The ideal candidate will demonstrate experience in youth development, mentoring, education, or a related field, with a strong understanding of how affirmation, identity, belonging, and access to opportunity influence a young person's growth and future aspirations.
The speaker should be able to:
Illustrate how mentors can serve as a “Mirror,” helping young people recognize their strengths, affirm their identities, and build confidence.
Demonstrate how mentors can serve as a “Window,” connecting young people to new experiences, career pathways, networks, and possibilities.
Incorporate compelling stories, relevant examples, and practical strategies that attendees can apply in their mentoring relationships.
Engage a diverse audience and deliver an inspiring message that balances reflection with a clear call to action.
Connect the keynote message to the collective responsibility of Greater Cincinnati's mentoring community to expand opportunities and support the potential of local youth.
Experience working with diverse youth populations, developing or training mentors, and collaborating with youth-serving organizations is strongly preferred.
Candidates should submit a submit a professional biography, relevant speaking experience, references or testimonials, and an outline of their proposed keynote approach. Outline Defined: An outline consists of a structured framework of a main topic, subpoints, supporting details, and a conclusion
Breakout Speaker Requirements
Your 40-minute session should be interactive and engaging. Your topic needs to be focused on one or more of the summit pillars listed. Candidates should submit a one-page professional biography with headshot that contains relevant speaking experience, references or testimonials. Also a one-page outline of their proposed breakout session approach with a title. An outline consists of a structured framework of a main topic, subpoints, supporting details, and a conclusion.
Pillar 1: Polishing the Mirror: Mental Health
This track focuses on the mentor's critical role in supporting a mentee's overall well-being and creating a psychologically safe relationship. While not a substitute for a therapist, a mentor can help a mentee feel seen and supported.
Topics may include:
Active Listening for Mental Wellness
Recognizing Burnout in Your Mentee (and Yourself)
Setting Healthy Boundaries
Fostering Resilience
Pillar 2: The Power of Mirrors and Windows: Cultural Diversity
This pillar explores the importance of representation (mirrors) and exposure to different cultures and ideas (windows). Sessions in this track should examine how mentorship can break down barriers and broaden horizons.
Topics may include:
Why Representation Matters in Mentoring
Cross-Cultural Communication
Being an Ally and Advocate
Ensuring Your Mentorship is a Window, Not a Wall
Pillar 3: Cleaning the Glass: Explicit Bias
This track directly confronts how biases can act like smudges on the mirror and the window, distorting perception and limiting a mentee's potential. Proposals should focus on practical strategies to recognize and overcome bias.
Topics may include:
Identifying Your Own Lived Experience as a Bias
Interrupting Microaggressions in Real-Time
Deconstructing Stereotypes in Goal-Setting
Creating an Unbiased Mentoring Blueprint
