Youth Mentorship Leadership Academy (YMLA) is a program founded on September 22, 2021 to provide mentoring services to middle school underserved girls of color, especially those who suffered social, health and economic impacts due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The program has an innovative approach to mentoring, focusing on leadership skills, social capital awareness, and social capital education. The group takes a unique approach by pairing 3 groups of mentees with a professional mentor (for a total of 30 girls served by 10 professional mentors), allowing the group to capitalize on the great need and hunger for strong peer interaction amongst middle school students.
We believe that through mentoring each group of girls, together with their mentors, will become a mini network and support system. The mentors will provide the girls with an experience of what it means to be part of a strong, collaborative network.
To connect the future through lessons from the past, especially by impacting underserved girls of color. Also provide mentoring and networking to young women of color through leadership skills, social capital awareness and social capital education.
Ensure underserved girls of color have access to opportunities through development, resources, information, and positive relationships.
Community, Collaboration, Inclusivity, Stewardship, Inspiration, Caring, Respectful, Integrity, Impact, and Equity.