The Scotland Mentoring Program was initiated in the aftermath of an incident at Winston Churchill High School that occurred in January, 2007.  The incident was a reminder that there are groups that don’t feel welcome at Churchill.

One group that has felt unwelcome is residents of the Scotland community in Potomac.  Program partners came together in January, 2007, to develop a mentoring program that would enhance students’ self esteem and make a positive impression on the community at large.  A group of ten to fifteen middle school students were selected to participate as mentees by Bette Thompson and Elizabeth Ortega-Loehmeyer.  TFM staff and board members met with the program partners to initiate the program then met with the selected mentees to develop the program.  In a series of meetings, the group of mentees and TFM staff and board members discussed ideas for the mentoring program, including the make-up of mentors (adults), the meeting day/time (Mondays, 3-4 pm), and desired outcomes from the mentoring experience (enhanced self-esteem, positive impression on the community at-large).  While TFM recruits mentors, the TFM staff and board serve as mentors at the mentoring sessions, which take place once a week for one hour throughout the school year.  Mentees/mentors may participate for more than one year, and the program is open to new mentees/mentors throughout the year.

In the course of our discussions, it became clear that identity was a key factor influencing student self-esteem and public perception, particularly since one of the most troubling aspects of the Churchill incident was identification of Scotlanders as gang members.  Mentees and TFM developed a mentoring program concept that centers upon the history of the Scotland community.  It is hoped that appreciating this history, both for Scotland residents and for the community at-large, will further understanding between the groups and enhance the esteem felt by residents and held for the community.

At the program’s core is a plan to conduct oral history interviews with Scotland community elders and to photographically document the interviews, individuals, and community in order to develop and present a website featuring the history of Scotland.  Mentees will conduct the interviews and produce the images as well as assist in the design and development of the website.  Project presentations will be made for various communities and organizations, including Churchill High School.

MENTORING PROGRAM PARTNERS:

• Bette Thompson, President, Scotland Community Civic Association
• Montgomery County Recreation Department
• The Task Force on Mentoring of Montgomery County (TFM)
• The Maryland Humanities Council