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L.O.V.E. Mentoring Program

Claudia Espinosa

08/11/2024 15:11

Do you have specific Neighborhood(s) in mind?: Washington Heights
Which group(s) does your idea focus on? Select as many as apply.: Youth

Limited English Speakers

Immigrants/ Migrants

Low Income People

Black, Indigenous and/or People of Color
Describe the challenge you want to address:: Today, approximately 2.49 million Latinos reside in New York City (U.S. Census Bureau, 2020), making the city home to one of the most diverse Latino communities in the country. Despite being one of the largest and most promising communities in NYC, 24.3% of Latino New Yorkers live below the poverty line (U.S. Census Bureau, 2021). These socioeconomic challenges can contribute to various social issues. For example, 22% of Latina high school students reported seriously considering suicide (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2021). In 2021, Hispanic mothers accounted for 60.1% of live births to mothers under the age of 20 in NYC (New York City Health, 2021). High school dropout rates are highest among Hispanic girls (5.2%), compared to their Black (4.4%), Asian (1.6%), and White (2%) peers (New York City Department of Education, 2021). These barriers can hinder young Latinas’ opportunities to achieve their goals. However, despite these statistics, the Latino community—and young Latinas in particular—demonstrates remarkable resilience. By fostering an environment centered on support and empowerment, the L.O.V.E. Mentoring Program enhances the health education provided to young women in NYC public schools and works to increase high school graduation rates, college enrollment, and healthy lifestyles among them.
What is the solution to the challenge?: The central component of the L.O.V.E. Mentoring Program is mentorship. L.O.V.E. provides a culturally sensitive and inclusive environment that fosters well-being and identity while offering a holistic approach to learning that ensures all young women have the support they need to achieve academic success. L.O.V.E. recruits volunteer female university students to serve as mentors, guiding and being role models for young Latinas throughout their high school years. Most mentors are Latina or women from diverse cultural backgrounds, with many being first-generation college students from NYC—just like our mentees. This shared background and similar age allow mentors to relate directly to the challenges their mentees face, creating a strong connection. In turn, this relatable role-modeling empowers mentees to see themselves reflected in their mentors and to envision the promising future that lies ahead of them. L.O.V.E.’s mentorship helps foster a sense of belonging, connection, and mutual support. In addition to mentorship, there is a growing recognition of the importance of mental health, which has led to a more holistic approach to education. This approach not only emphasizes academic achievement but also addresses students’ social and emotional needs. As a result, the demand for the L.O.V.E. Mentoring Program has grown, as it provides the education, resources, and guidance that young women need to thrive both academically and in all areas of life. L.O.V.E. offers a preventive and motivational program designed to empower young women to believe in themselves, recognize their self-worth, and pursue ambitious goals. The school-based program is delivered throughout the academic year as part of Health Studies classes at partner schools. These classes are tailored specifically for female students, incorporating instruction on social and emotional topics that align with health education standards. From September to June, mentors and mentees participate in weekly, hour-long sessions, guided by a curriculum covering four core components: mental health, reproductive health, college access, and career readiness. During the 2024-2025 academic year, L.O.V.E. aims to expand the number of mentoring programs from 24 to 30. This expansion will allow us to offer comprehensive health education courses to female-identifying high school students who need to fulfill a one-credit requirement. As a result, we plan to increase the number of students we serve from 300 to 500. To accomplish this, L.O.V.E. is collaborating closely with the New York City Department of Education and school leaders to ensure we provide the most effective support and resources for young female students. Additionally, another key goal is to develop new community-based programs that will provide direct services to young women who are not part of our school-based programs. The L.O.V.E. community-based program will be implemented in collaboration with local organizations in high-density Latino communities throughout NYC. These partnerships will help us broaden our reach and offer support to even more young women in need. We anticipate that, by participating in the L.O.V.E. program, 100% of students will experience an improvement in self-confidence, gain a solid understanding of sexual health education, develop a growth mindset, enhance their English language proficiency, and achieve academic success while also accessing opportunities for professional development.
Please provide your Zip Code: 10036