That ’s the question posed to 50 Step Up sophomores at Saturday’s “I Dream To” Mentor Day, made possible by a grant from the AOL Charitable Foundation and additional support from AOL Inc.
In New York, the mentorship conference was hosted at the AOL office on Broadway, providing an inspiring space for life-changing conversations during National Mentoring Month.
Girls enrolled in Step Up’s after-school programs were paired with professional women members of the organization, which aims to inspire women to inspire girls. The mentees were matched with mentors who work in an industry of interest. Needless to say, the day was full of career exploration and vision-sharing.
The mentorship pairs navigated the “I Dream To” Mentor Day together, participating in activities including setting academic and career goals and creating a goal road map. They also enjoyed a catered lunch togehter, providing time for social interactions and networking. The women helped the girls explore their individual passions and skills and then discussed how these interests and talents can help navigate one’s professional trajectory.
Girls come to Step Up’s programs from under-resourced communities, and days like the “I Dream To” Mentor Day provide them with the opportunity to meet and hear from professional women about a myriad of careers. Step Up believes “you can’t be what you can’t see,” so days like this are crucial for jump-starting the dreams and aspirations Step Up girls hold for their future careers. 100% of seniors active in Step Up’s programs have graduated high school and been accepted to college for five straight years, with most being the first in their family to enroll in college.
The AOL Charitable Foundation is focused on empowering women, girls and underserved youth through leadership, education, technology and opportunity. The Foundation selected Step Up to receive one of its first four grants, recognizing that Step Up’s mission closely aligned with its own. The Foundation is funding Step up to support the organization’s College and Career Connections Conferences, in addition to the “I Dream To” Mentor Day, in New York, Chicago and Los Angeles, in an effort to propel girls from under-resourced communities to fulfill their potential by empowering them to become confident, college-bound, career-focused and ready to join the next generation of professional women.
You can join the AOL Charitable Foundation in supporting Step Up and its vision to ensure that all girls have the opportunity to fulfill their potential. Sign-up to receive Step Up e-communications to see how you can engage, or learn about getting involved as a mentor if you live in New York, Chicago or Los Angeles.
