How our near-peer mentoring model is addressing pandemic isolation

How our near-peer mentoring model is addressing pandemic isolation

“The University of California, Irvine, helped us recruit and place the college students who would eventually lead the “virtual learning pods,” as we call them. UC Irvine also provided us with research and program design guidance, a model to build upon and learning pod leaders who were offered professional development every two weeks. The PD sessions covered a range of topics, including how to build community virtually, social-emotional considerations and family engagement,” [writes Alex Serna, executive director of Breakthrough San Juan Capistrano].