October 22 | 11 AM – 12 PM CDT

Strong relationships are the foundation of meaningful learning and mentorship is one of the most powerful ways to cultivate them. In this thought leaders session, we’ll explore how educators can build authentic, supportive, and empowering relationships with students through mentorship practices that foster trust, connection, and growth.

We’ll dive into key questions, like:  

• What do effective youth/adult partnerships look like in today’s educational landscape?  
• How can we create relationship-rich environments where every student feels seen, heard, and supported?  
• What are practical strategies for sustaining authentic relationships, especially in busy or virtual learning spaces?

Whether you’re mentoring students formally or building everyday connections that matter, this session will provide tools, stories, and inspiration to help you lead with empathy, authenticity, and intentionality.

Join us as we reframe mentorship not just as a program, but as a powerful approach to student success.

Guest speakers:

Kimberly Hollingsworth, Big Brothers Big Sisters

Kim Hollingsworth is the Director of Program Development and Scale at Big Brothers Big Sisters of America. She has supported the BBBS mission since 2008 through various roles at both the local and national levels.

Throughout her career, Kim has focused on youth development and expanding opportunities for young people. She currently leads the BBBS National Youth Council, a group of 15 young adults who help shape the organization’s future through youth voice and leadership. Prior to her work with BBBS, Kim worked in education for the Columbus City Schools in Ohio.

Kim holds a B.A. in Psychology from Dallas Baptist University and an M.A. in Psychology from the University of Phoenix.

Originally from Venezuela, Kim has called the U.S. home since the age of nine. She lives in Magnolia, Texas, with her 10-year-old son.

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kimberly-hollingsworth-21707264?trk=contact-info 

Sarah, National Youth Council Member, Big Brothers Big Sisters

Sarah has been deeply involved with her local Big Brothers Big Sisters agency for several years—as a former e-mentoring Little, a current Big, and a member of the Youth Board. Her passion for mentoring and youth leadership has also led her to serve nationally as a member of the Big Brothers Big Sisters of America National Youth Council. Outside of BBBS, Sarah volunteers with several local non-profits and loves spending time with her puppy and her Little.

Jana Ferguson, Check and Connect Program Manager, University of Minnesota

Jana Hallas Ferguson, M.Ed. is a Project Coordinator for the Institute on Community Integration for the University of Minnesota, where she provides training and technical assistance to districts on programs around the country on Check & Connect. Prior to working at the University, Jana taught special education for ten years in Cy-Fair ISD in Houston, Texas. She trained district personnel on creating meaningful, Standards-Based goals and objectives to ensure student success throughout high school and into post-secondary life. 

Additionally, Jana created and conducted annual school-wide training on collecting data on student progress on academic and behavioral IEPs, facilitated data collection for each grading term, and provided technical assistance and support for individual teachers when needed. She assisted personnel in implementing IEP programming in the general and special education classrooms as well as served as a facilitator in parent/teacher communication to ensure the needs of students were met for all students with disabilities throughout the campus. Mrs. Ferguson has a Master’s Degree in Education with an emphasis in Low Incidence Disabilities from Texas A&M University. Her undergraduate degree was completed at Coe College, where she double-majored in secondary education and history.

Cesar Barragan, Executive Director, Brothers on the Rise

Cesar Barragan brings a rich blend of cultural understanding, educational expertise, and community engagement to his role as Executive Director of Brothers on the Rise (BOTR). Raised bilingual and bicultural in vibrant Baja, Mexico, and San Diego, California, Cesar has dedicated his career to empowering young people, particularly boys and young men of color, to reach their full potential through education, mentorship, and community connection.

Before joining BOTR, Cesar spent several years teaching across grade levels in the Bay Area, from kindergarten and first grade to high school, where he became a specialist in Advanced Placement (AP) Spanish instruction. His passion for teaching evolved beyond academics to focus on nurturing the whole person, inspiring his transition into youth development and leadership work.

At BOTR, Cesar leads with a deep commitment to equity, healing, and empowerment. He oversees programs that build critical life skills, promote positive identity development, and prepare youth for academic, personal, and professional success.

In addition to his leadership and teaching experience, Cesar has supervised community survey implementation for the Hayward Promise Neighborhood initiative, advancing community-based research and engagement. A dedicated community artist and curator, he continues to use creativity as a bridge for connection, reflection, and social change.

Julie Rogers Bascom, Director of Learning and Leadership, National Youth Leadership Council

Julie Rogers Bascom is a service-learning leader from Minneapolis, MN who has been supporting youth workers, teachers and young people to use service-learning as a strategy to solve problems in their communities for over 17 years. Her passion for supporting young people to become problem solvers formed when her own children attended an Oakland, CA school where every student, every year was engaged in service-learning. Julie also serves on non-profit boards that encourage civic engagement: the League of Women Voters and Doing Good Together, an effort to empower families to raise caring and engaged children. She also coaches and leads workshops on Respectful Conversations in Schools, a protocol designed for teachers and students to address controversial topics. Rogers Bascom has presented at local and national workshops on how to incorporate service into curriculum and community.

For questions, or to schedule a consultation, please contact us at [email protected].
This event will take place on Wednesday, October 22 at 11:00 AM CT via Zoom. You will receive the link to join the Zoom call closer to the date.