Hello young adults and supporters,

We are pleased to announce that the next Gathering & Inspiring Future Talent (GIFT) Training

Location:Wayside Youth and Family Support Network, 88 Lincoln Street, Framingham, MA

Dates/Time: Oct 6, 8, 13, 15, 20, 22, 27, 29. November 3, 10, 17, 24, December 1, 8,15 from 10am-3pm

This training is sponsored by the Department of Mental Health and Wayside Youth and Family Support Network.This training is free of charge and open to youth and young adults with lived experience with mental health challenges and/or substance abuse who are interested in exploring opportunities to become Peer Mentors/Peer Support Workers and/or becoming active in Youth Advisory Groups or other venues that seek to develop & promote young adult voice.

The holistic training will provide the following:

  1. Peer Mentor/Peer Support Worker training - This part of the training teaches young adults to share their story in a way that helps increase perspective on their lives and experiences and helps them move forward and help others in their recovery. It also teaches young adults the basics and guidelines of how to be an effective Peer Mentor/Peer Support Worker.
  2. Core Gift statement creation – Participants are brought through a 4 part process focusing on who they are and what they can contribute to the community. Core GIFT is a process that helps individuals to identify and develop their strengths and then decide how they want to contribute them to the community.
  3. Career Development Support – The trainer instructs young adults on how to create resumes and cover letters and support them with job searching or support and guidance if they are already in the workforce.

Flyers:Please find attached two PDFs of the GIFT training flyer. (1) The updated, full color GIFT flyer for electronic communication and color printing; and (2) a version (labeled BW) can be printed with a black and white printer. I have also attached the 1-page application.

Trainer-Coach: Kim Bisset, Ed.D, Kim is the Founder and Principal of Radiate Career Consulting and advises business and non-profits who are interested in creating or improving their employment and training programs. She specializes in promoting career and life skills development in Transitional Age Youth (TAY), training and integrating Peer Providers into the workplace and creating and sustaining a more diverse and inclusive workforce. Kim is a Motivational Interviewing Trainer and has been implementing the GIFT training for the Department of Mental Health and other organizations for the past four years.

Here is the link to a 4-minute video describing the training created by past GIFT graduates that provides additional information that may be helpful to potential students and their supporters to view the New GIFT Trailer at

Applications can be submitted to Kim Bisset by Friday, October 2, 2015.Please feel free to spread the word far and wide about this exciting opportunity.If you have any questions, please contact Kim Bisset: or call/text 781-956-4848.

Sincerely,

Kim Bisset, Ed.D and the GIFT training team