About this Study

The Affinity Project investigated mentoring and intergenerational supports within the connected learning framework through a number of research projects: The Understanding and Improving Adult-Youth Matches, and The Veteran’s History Project. The Affinity project identified two new models of mentoring based on this fieldwork: 1) Practitioner mentoring, which involves incorporating the best practices that have been learned through youth mentoring research into the everyday interactions that staff have with youth in out-of-school (OST) settings, and 2) Youth initiated mentoring, which involves teaching youth to recruit mentors who share (and can help develop) their interests.

Study Team Members

The Affinity Project

Jean Rhodes

University of Massachusetts, Boston
The Affinity Project

Sarah Schwartz

Suffolk University