2026 Bridge Conference

Educators and case managers know that shared racial or cultural identity alone does not guarantee a strong mentoring relationship. What turns a classroom into a space of trust and brotherhood is something more specific, and it shows up in small, repeatable practices. This session draws on a multi-year, mixed-methods evaluation of a culturally responsive Black studies elective and mentorship program, including a collaborative program evaluation and an in-press, peer-reviewed qualitative study, to name those practices. Findings identify the relational and programmatic elements, including individualized care coordination, identity-affirming curriculum, and consistent relational routines, that young people and their mentor-educators credit with building trust, brotherhood, and engagement, along with the conditions of school and district leadership required to sustain this work. Participants will leave with evidence-based strategies they can adapt within their own culturally responsive mentoring programs.

A collective vision and strong organizational systems create teams poised to work effectively and efficiently. Through experiential learning, organizational development theory, and strong facilitation, your team will deepen relationships, develop collective agreements about how to use limited resources, and infuse your team with shared values to create a strong climate that supports accountability, minimizes conflict, and maximizes productivity.

Session Objectives

• Learn strategies to identify core values and use them to design processes
• To reflect on what creates teams that are poised to succeed
• To understand the work styles of team members