Connecting with Youth Awards
Each year, the Partnership, in conjunction with the Mentoring Partnership of Minnesota , presents the “Connecting with Youth Award” and “Hero of Mentoring” honors to recognize those caring adults who share their time, talents and energy with young people – and to encourage others to join them in youth mentoring. This prestigious award is presented before hundreds of business, community and political leaders at the Partnership’s Annual Dinner.

2009 Connecting with Youth Recipient: Dan Carlson, 3M 

(Top) Dan Carlson with Governor Pawlenty and Mentoring Partnership of Minnesota Executive Director Joellen Gonder-Spacek. (Bottom) Dan Carlson talks with First LEGO League students at an early season meeting.

You can’t miss with LEGOs and robots. “There are always interested kids,” said High Tech Kids Executive Director Holly Mezera. “But without trained coaches, there would be no teams, and there would be no program!” That’s where Dan Carlson, a specialist in 3M’s corporate lab, has really made a difference as a volunteer for the past seven years with the FIRST LEGO League (FLL).

Through FLL, young people ages 9-14 form teams and, with help from 1-2 coaches, research a real world problem, develop an innovative solution, build and program autonomous LEGO robots, and share their work at competitions and within their communities.

Not only has Dan coached teams, but he has recruited and coached the coaches. Last year, Dan mentored 11 St. Paul Public School coaches, assisting them on a weekly basis, teaching them valuable skills so they could be effective FIRST LEGO League coaches. 

The new season is just getting underway. Between September and January, Dan will spend 8-12 hours each week supporting FLL as a coach, referee, recruiter, trainer and jack-of-all-trades. “Dan’s experience and continuous enthusiasm for High Tech Kids is a true gift to us,” Mezera said. “He inspires other volunteers and never turns down an opportunity to assist where needed.” (Watch video.)

2009 Heroes of Mentoring: Emily Farber & Joyce Goodrich, IWCO Direct

Emily Farber (left) and Joyce Goodrich, IWCO Direct, were honored as 2009 Heroes of mentoiring for a variety of activities, including their commitment to support youth literacy through the People Active in Literacy Support reading program at Victoria Elementary School.

Previous Connecting with Youth Recipients