TNB’s Prentice Butler Talks Advocate Training

Prentice Butler took some time out of his very busy day recently to talk about The Neighborhood Bridge’s Advocate Program, in which volunteers are trained to work in partnership with program Participants to address their needs. 

Butler says Advocate training begins with a breakfast meeting. The informational meeting helps prospective volunteers learn about TNB’s values as an organization. If they are interested in pursuing the Advocate Program, volunteers attend two more sessions, each about 2.5 hours.

During the training sessions, Butler says leaders try to cover all aspects of what advocacy will look like.  There is work to help volunteers learn how to deal with participants who have trauma in their lives, as well as discussions on aspects of the community that might be valuable for volunteers to understand.

The training focuses on volunteers working with participants to ascertain their goals and use TNB’s database of resources to help them reach positive outcomes.

The human side of being an advocate is also covered. Butler notes, “You do want to establish boundaries, but you also want to establish collaboration. Discretion is a critical part of building trust. We want to be respectful of the people we are engaging with. People are letting us into their lives and coming to us at their most vulnerable.”

Butler stresses that advocates can come from all walks of life. TNB provides a mentor to Advocates who will be there to offer any training needed. He states, “We don’t need you to be a social worker. We need you to care and to be open to learning.”

Once their training is complete, all advocates commit to serving 5-7 hours a month for 10 months. Butler notes that 10 months roughly covers the length of the school year.

Program participants will be identified through TNB’s partner schools: St. Catherine-St. Lucy, Catalyst Circle Rock, St. Angela, Chicago Jesuit Academy, and Christ the King College Prep.

TNB currently has 16 Advocates working to roll out the program at St. Catherine-St. Lucy and Catalyst Circle Rock this month.  Butler hopes to train another 10-15 advocates by June and a total of 60 ready to go when the school year starts in the fall.

While the Advocates provide a crucial service by connecting participants with social service agencies, Butler says Advocates get something out of it as well. “At this moment, people feel isolated and alone. People want to get involved and feel hope for the future. People are coming through the Advocate training and saying they feel very connected.”

“We saw with our January cohort that they felt very empowered by the training. They feel like they can make a difference.”

Butler looks forward to welcoming more volunteers to The Neighborhood Bridge. “I encourage and welcome people to come to a breakfast and learn more. It’s worthwhile, engaging, and fun. As the program has unfurled, it’s been satisfying to see a diverse group of people come together. People are heeding the call both in Austin and Oak Park.”

For more information about the Advocate Program and to register for a Bridge Breakfast, go to our Volunteer page here.