Mentor Network

A structured program that uses video platforms to connect kids in disadvantaged neighborhoods with multiple professionals that can inspire and expose them to a post-college life, a profession, and the city. An emphasis would be finding professionals that have come from similar neighborhoods.

Let me introduce you to Maria, an 11-yr old girl from a low-income Hispanic neighborhood. She has one parent and three siblings. Challenges she faces are having no knowledge, exposure, and/or inspiration for what she could be and what she needs to do to get there. An opportunity is there because she's inquisitive, smart, likes to read, and wants to learn. 

After school programs try to solve this but the problem is programs don't reach beyond the confines of where they are and programs are severely underfunded.

Our approach is to create a structured program that utilizes social media video platforms like Facebook, Skype, Snapchat, and LinkedIn to connect kids in disadvantaged neighborhoods with multiple professionals serving as mentors that can inspire and expose them to a post-college life, a profession, and the city. Mentors may also provide advice, networking, and simply being there to talk to. An emphasis would be finding professionals that have come from similar neighborhoods. The program puts in place protocols for appropriateness and accountability for all parties.

Virtually getting the kids out of their confines and using social media platforms to scale and keep costs low are a few distinctions of this solution. Our solution will help kids understand what's out there and what their future could be like, and help everyone understand each other better. Our solution will be paid for by public/private sponsorships and social media platforms.

One of the many problems that children like Maria face is that they aren't necessarily surrounded by people who have the time, ability or desire to see and help them succeed. Even if they have both parents still in their lives, even with dedicated and well-intentioned teachers, and even with friends or extended family who care for each other, the neighborhoods in which they grow up in are not the most conducive to outstanding academic and career achievement, and lack individual attention.

Our proposal would bring about realistic change because it will utilize platforms that make action affordable and convenient. These days most young kids are already using social media, watching Netflix, spending hours on Youtube and endlessly consuming media. Our solution is to get those same children to instead use these mediums to build their futures. They will create meaningful connections with professionals who will encourage them, believe in them and hold them accountable if need be. Those mentors might be the only people in these children’s lives who can offer such valuable insights and inspirations.