MentorSHIP program
WHY: Degree Outcomes
At two-year institutions, Hispanics’ graduation rate was 2%-points lower than that of their White non-Hispanic peers in the United States. At four-year institutions, Hispanics’ graduation rate was 12%-points lower than that of their White non-Hispanic peers in the United States. — Edexcelencia.org
And while eighty percent of Latinx students entering community college intend to transfer and earn a bachelor’s degree, only thirteen percent of them will do so within six years.
We’d like to help change that.
WHO: Latinx or Black, SPHS graduates, who are enrolled or will be enrolling at a local community college, and who’ll become the first in their family to earn a bachelor’s degree.
WHAT: The program is simple, students will be paired one-to-one with a local mentor. Mentor and student will attend a monthly Vecinos College Success Skill Building webinar. The mentor will touch base with the student twice a month to connect and discuss the particular skill-building theme for that month.
The mentor and student will touch base at least twice per month, once by video conference and at least once by text, email, voice chat, or other.
WHEN: The program begins in July 2021 and runs through June 2022, (no webinars planned for November, December or May).
WHERE: Meetings will be on a video conferencing platform. Mentors connect with students using texting, voice chat, and video chat platforms.
COST: There is no fee to participate.
QUESTIONS: Email us at mentorship@vecinosdesouthpasadena.org
Student Requirements and Commitment
- Complete a short application, enrollment is still open for 2021-2022.
- Must identify as Latinx or Black.
- Must be the first in their family to earn a college degree.
- Confirm enrollment in a community college.
- Ultimately desires to transfer and earn a bachelor’s degree.
- Willing to be coached.
- Commit to attend monthly webinars.
- Will be responsive to mentor’s texts and emails.
Mentor Requirements and Commitment
- Hold a bachelor’s degree.
- Complete a short application found here; we currently have more mentors than students, however we would love to know of your interest in the event we are able to recruit more students.
- Commit to program for one year minimum.
- Attend one hour initial meeting with program director.
- Commit to check-in with student twice monthly.
- Attend one-hour group “meet and greet”
- Identify and commit to connect student with Vecinos Mentorship Program lead volunteer, if student has any issues or technical questions about transferring to a four-year university.
- Attend bi-monthly, 30-minute Vecinos Mentorship Program meeting to discuss group themes and conversation subjects to discuss with student.
- Along with another mentor, co-present on one of the following topics, for the benefit of an all-student meeting:
- Time management
- Sense of belonging
- Strengthening self-agency
- Goal-setting
- Career Exploration
- Networking