The Southcoast Mentoring Initiative for Learning, Education and Service (SMILES) program held an orientation program for new mentors and mentees at the Kuss Middle School cafeteria on January 18, 2007.  Designed to create an informal way for children to meet and select an adult who they would like as a mentor, the event included lots of "ice breakers" and interactive games where mentees could get to know the adults who have committed to spend an hour a week at the middle school with each mentee. The mission of the organization is to help at risk children realize their personal and educational potential through a large scale one-on-one mentoring program. SMILES, pioneered by Jim Mathes former President of the New Bedford Chamber of Commerce, is seeking to recruit several hundred volunteer mentors in Fall River for similar programs over the next several years. For more information about the program, contact  Marie-Frances Rivera at 508-999-9300.
 

(Top row, left) Dominic Jackson sticks a child's name tag on the back of one of the adult mentors while (Top row, right) Tony Pires of Professional Business Printing sticks name tags of adults on the backs of Justin, Tyler and Matilde. (Top row, center) Marissa Vidal and and Onelys Feliciano look over the adult mentors before beginning the exercise. (Middle row, left) Cheyenne Hanley and Ava Assad of the Mayor's Office exchange information in a personal bingo game. (Middle row, center) Sixth-grader Brad Almeida enjoys the chance to get to know his potential mentors in an informal setting. (Middle row, right) SMILES Program Coordinator Marie Rivera, left, instructs the group to mimic introductory gestures made by each member of the group. (Bottom row, left) Chamber of Commerce CEO Peter Kortright makes an introductory gesture as Tony Pires looks on. (Bottom row, center) Cafe Arpeggio owner Rob Gould is interviewed by Samantha Arruda  while Carol Figueroa interviews Fall River Youth Services Director Christian McCloskey. (Bottom row, right) Alexis McDowell, Cheyenne Hanley and David Couture describe their favorite television shows and movies to Donna Medeiros from Citizens-Union Bank.