This month, the Community Connections mentoring program will host a monthly Impact Night at North Platte Community College, a new program for mentors and mentees.

Impact Nights will be held the first Monday each month, to create meaningful learning experiences and strengthen mentor-mentee connections. Traditionally hosted at the Senior Center, Impact Nights now will include a regularly scheduled collaboration with Mid-Plains Community College.

During the March Impact Night, mentoring pairs can have dinner on campus and participate in hands-on experiences within the college’s health sciences programs. Youth and mentors will explore an ambulance simulator and medical emergency immersion rooms, for insight into careers in emergency response and healthcare.

The interactive experiences are designed to spark curiosity, build confidence, and open conversations about future possibilities in high-demand career fields Mentoring Coordinator Angela Hipp said.

“We are very excited to add this opportunity to our mentoring program,” Hipp said. “We have partnered with Mid-Plains Community College for years by attending and supporting various events, but establishing a consistent time for mentoring pairs to engage and learn on campus deepens that partnership and expands exposure for youth.”

Impact Nights focus on both learning and connection. During the past year, mentoring pairs have participated in a wide variety of experiences, including:

• Lessons on how to be a good friend and how to set meaningful goals.
• Cooking and nutrition classes with Nebraska Extension.
• STEM exploration nights with Shreya from Catalyst STEM Learning.
• A tour of the North Platte Fire Department.
• Literacy game nights to build reading skills in a fun, engaging way.
• Mental health and wellness education, including a sound bath and breathwork session led by Journey Beyond Breath.

These evenings introduce youth to new places in the community while encouraging meaningful conversations with trusted adults around topics that most impact young people in making healthy decisions.

Impact Nights are held on the first Monday of each month and are open to youth enrolled in the mentoring program. Participants may attend with their mentor or a parent/guardian.

For more information about the mentoring program or how to get involved as a mentor, contact Angela Hipp at 308.696.0975 or mentor@communityconnectionslc.org.

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