Desiree Robertson
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The Challenge MENTOR and its Affiliates are focused on addressing the persistent opportunity gaps and structural barriers faced by Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC). More specifically, this work centers BIPOC girls and women and how their realities intersect with themes like wellness, community-building and mentoring. Research has shown that BIPOC girls and women experience unique challenges from childhood through adulthood including disproportionately high rates of school suspension and discipline, sexual trauma, violence and abuse, and a significant pay gap with barriers that prevent full participation in the workforce.
These challenges, perpetuated by systems rooted in racism, sexism, and structural poverty, have long-lasting effects on BIPOC communities. Although there is a high level of awareness around this, there aren’t adequate solutions that address the short- and long-term impacts of these experiences at scale.
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The Data We believe – and research confirms – that mentoring can offer powerful pathways to success and healing for BIPOC girls and women. Young people from under-resourced families and communities, which are disproportionately made up of people of color, are often excluded from opportunities to build relationships with from more caring, non-parental adults and webs of support.
One study put the national rate of disconnection at 21.6% for Black youth, 20.3% for Native American youth, and 16.3% for Latino youth: significantly higher than for White youth (11%).
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The Way Forward Mentoring, at its core, and when done with authenticity, intentionality, and with cultural humility, guarantees young people that there is someone who cares about them, assures them they are not alone in dealing with day-to-day challenges. Mentoring relationships, in any context, can help to address many of the challenges BIPOC girls and young women face, by empowering them to lead their lives in a way they deem fit.
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The Work Mentoring is not new to BIPOC women. For decades, BIPOC women have been leading movements and change in their communities from the grassroots up, mentoring others along the way. Now is the time to listen and learn from them in order to provide them with resources rooted in their voices and expertise. Over time, these initiatives will equip thousands of mentoring programs with the tools they need to help more BIPOC girls and women recover from trauma, foster a sense of belonging, and better equip them to achieve their goals.
MENTOR, as the convener of the mentoring movement, is uniquely positioned to leverage its network of BIPOC women leaders and mentors, extensive partnerships, 24 national Affiliates, to synthesize and scale learnings and innovations to meet the needs of mentoring programs serving millions of BIPOC girls and women across the US.
The Team
Desiree Robertson
With over 20 years in the mentoring field, Desireé Robertson is the Director of Training and Product Design for MENTOR. In this role, she is responsible for driving and executing MENTOR’s vision for quality training development and product design and collaborates with internal teams to identify training needs, design curriculum, and facilitate workshops and summits. She leads with a passion for empowering individuals through mentoring and ensures that our products, tools, and trainings are developed with best practices in adult learning theory, and instructional and information design. Desireé is the national lead on the new Black and Brown Girls’ Mentoring Movement and is an international trainer and facilitator. Prior to MENTOR, Desireé gained extensive experience in mentoring, program management and development, curriculum development, training and professional development by directing the local mentoring Affiliate in Memphis, Tennessee and built a mentoring program and directed it at Girls Incorporated of Memphis, Inc. As a Sociologist and business owner of Sol to Root Wellness LLC, she has a passion for community building and integrating wellness into all aspects of her life, including mentoring curriculum. Desireé holds a graduate degree in Sociology from the University of Memphis Desireé’s search and areas of interest include restorative justice, youth voice, critical mentoring and supporting college students in finding meaningful mentoring opportunities.
Elizabeth Santiago, PhD
Elizabeth Santiago, PhD, Liz, is the founder of The Untold Narratives – a free website dedicated to the art and craft of storytelling. As a fiction writer and writing teacher living in Boston, she seeks to elevate underrepresented and under-heard voices. Her debut novel, The Moonlit Vine is available in English and Spanish (Claro de luna) and tells the little known narrative of the Taíno people, the native people of Puerto Rico, Haiti, Dominican Republic, Cuba and Jamaica who are still here and a huge part of Caribbean culture and history. She formerly held the role of Chief Program Officer at MENTOR National. While there, she was actively involved in the management of programs and services to support and build the mentoring field. She is most proud of her work focusing on racial equity and sharing power in the mentoring relationship as well as her work to elevate the importance of quality relationships for youth that specifically support building their networks. She obtained her PhD in Educational Studies from Lesley University, Master of Education from Harvard University, and Bachelor of Fine Arts in Creative Writing from Emerson College. Read more about her in this blog: Move Beyond Imposter Syndrome: Be a Champion Instead.
Jacklyn Crisanti
Jacklyn Crisanti, originally from Connecticut, brings over a decade of diverse experience in event planning, hospitality, marketing, behavior therapy, and teaching. With a psychology degree from the University of Connecticut, she founded JDC Experience, a leading event planning company based in Saint Petersburg, Florida. Known for her innovative approach, Jacklyn seamlessly integrates psychology and marketing to craft unforgettable events that leave a lasting impact. She is committed to excellence and community engagement, actively participating in charitable initiatives.
Marcus Strother
Marcus Strother is the Executive Director of MENTOR California, the California affiliate of MENTOR, the unifying national champion for expanding quality mentoring relationships for young people.
A father, husband, career educator, youth and community advocate, he has over two decades of experience in public education. Marcus spent eight years in the classroom and nine as a high school administrator, most recently as Director of Youth Development at Sacramento City Unified School District (SCUSD). At SCUSD he oversaw the district’s Expanded Learning Programs, Summer Programming and Boys and Girls of Color initiatives, which included the coordination of the Men’s Leadership Academy (MLA) and Women’s Leadership Academy (WLA). The program focused on supporting youth in the development of their personal social justice framework through civic engagement and community building.
Outside the traditional classroom, Marcus provides professional teacher training in the Freedom Writers Methodology as a Freedom Writer Teacher and is building a movement in education, mentoring and youth development around the ideology he describes as “Life Data.” Human testimony is assessment! When he is not working with youth, he spends Wednesday nights teaching a Creative Writing class at Folsom State Prison. He and his wife have traveled abroad with students to support the building of 3 schools in the Dominican Republic and a medical clinic in Peru, working with the Yanesha people.
Marcus is a graduate of the University of Arkansas @ Pine Bluff and has earned two graduate degrees in education from Olivet Nazarene University. Marcus is an award-winning educator and has been named Illinois Public Citizen of the Year, Illinois 40 Under 40, Sacramento Kings/Wal-Mart Community Playmaker and the Golden State Warriors 2023 Impact Warrior. He lives with his wife, twin sons and daughter in Elk Grove, California.
Leslie Hale
As the executive director of MENTOR Georgia, Leslie is leading statewide efforts to grow capacity, ensure training and support, and promote the work of youth mentoring programs in Georgia. MENTOR Georgia is housed at the J.W. Fanning Institute for Leadership Development at the University of Georgia.
Leslie joined Fanning in 2021 as a public service faculty member and as the first full-time director of MENTOR Georgia, an affiliate of MENTOR: The National Mentoring Partnership. The mission and work of MENTOR allows Leslie to braid together her passions for education, youth development, public policy, and community service.
Previously, Leslie honed her social entrepreneurship chops as the first executive director of Books for Keeps, a research-based literacy nonprofit that gave 750,000 new and like-new books to Georgia students across her eight-year tenure. Leslie’s professional interests are informed by a childhood introduction to volunteering with her mother, an early career as a newspaper reporter covering education as well as state and local government, and a deep appreciation for the role of public education in shaping her own life. Leslie lives in Athens, GA, with her husband and two children.
Toni Lampley
Toni Lampley joined IOWA Mentor in December 2020. As the interim executive director, Toni promotes and supports mentoring programs across the state of Iowa. She delivers training and technical assistance using the evidence-based practices of the Elements of Effective Practice for Mentoring™ and provides advice, assistance, guidance, and oversight to selected mentoring program sub-grantees as well as community and businesses who partner with the State of Iowa in these efforts.
Toni is an author, and certified life coach who assists individuals in designing their lives. She spends time helping woman and girls build their self-worth and confidence by using art & design.
Toni was born in Pontiac, Michigan, but is an Ames, Iowa native. She carries a Master of Higher Education, Community College Leadership, Bachelor of Science in Journalism, emphasis in Public Relations, from Iowa State University.
Brittany Baines
A New Haven Native, Brittany is the Project Manager of Mentoring/Prevention Program Providers for The Governor’s Prevention Partnership. Brittany also serves as the Co-Chair of The Governor’s Prevention Partnership Greater New Haven Mentoring Collaborative, Founder/CEO of Phenomenal I Am, Inc., a member of the Community Foundation of Greater New Haven Girls of Color Mentoring Network and the 2nd Vice President of The New Haven Club of the National Association of Negro Business and Professional Women’s Club (NANBPWC). Brittany earned a bachelor’s degree from The University of Connecticut in Human Development and Family Studies with the concentration in Families and Relationships: Services and Counseling and a master’s degree from Quinnipiac University in Organizational Leadership with the concentration of Non-Profit and Public Service. Brittany is dedicated to her adaptive leadership capabilities as she gives back to her community. With over 9 years of experience in the mentoring field & movement, Brittany has acquired skills and experiences that have equipped her to be an effective and efficient leader, with the specialty of designing, developing, implementing, and monitoring quality-based youth programming. Brittany’s passion is to educate, empower and improve the overall well-being of youth and families.
Lauren McCabe
Manager of Training and Capacity Building
Lauren joined MMP in August 2022. In her role as Manager of Training and Capacity Building, she trains and supports youth-serving programs implementing high quality mentoring programs across the state. Lauren comes to MMP from Boston After School & Beyond, where she led the Partnerships for Social and Emotional Learning Initiative with Boston Public Schools. Lauren grew up in New Hampshire and holds an Interdisciplinary Degree from Stonehill College. After graduating, she completed an AmeriCorps term with the Jesuit Volunteer Corps Northwest in Aberdeen, WA, and completed a second year of service in Brockton, MA with the Stonehill College Service Corps. Over the years, she has worked with young people, consulted with programs to integrate SEL, facilitated retreats, led book clubs, and shared her efforts to live sustainably. Lauren values community, solidarity, simple living, and joy.
Natalie Spriigs
Manager of Community Engagement, Eastern MA
Natalie Spriggs joined Mass Mentoring Partnership in February 2023. Natalie is originally from Dayton, Ohio, but recently moved to Boston Massachusetts. She has spent the last 20 years in non-profit work with a youth serving focus. She started out as a teacher before becoming a director of programs within different organizations. Natalie holds a degree in Early Childhood Education as well as Human Development. She now serves as MMP’s Manager of Community Engagement for Eastern Massachusetts.
Janeen Smith-Carnes
Director of Training and Capacity Building
Janeen Smith-Carnes joined MMP in March 2015 and is the Director of Training and Capacity Building. In her role, she builds the training and leads technical assistance and operations support for youth mentoring and other youth-serving programs across the state. She gained experience in youth development and program management during her time as an AmeriCorps Promise Fellow and has worked in adult programming at YWCA Boston. A New Jersey native, Janeen earned her BA from Smith College and an MBA in Nonprofit Management from the Heller School at Brandeis University.
Betty Hill
Betty joined MENTOR Greater Milwaukee as Program Coordinator in August 2019, and currently serves as Director of Youth Development and Strategic Partnerships.
Betty is a member of Milwaukee TEMPO, Emerging Women Leaders; a network of women who represent the future of leadership in Milwaukee where she assumes role as Chair of One-to-One Mentor Committee, and a member of Sojourner Family Peace Center’s Emerging Leaders, and Board Member of Milwaukee’s Finest Scholarship Foundation (MFSF. Betty is the My Sista’s KeepHer 2018 F.I.R.E. Awards Recipient (Females In Recognition of Excellence) Where she received the Image Award. She was recognized for exemplifying positivity, helping others, and working hard in the community.
Betty is a graduate of Alverno College, Community Leadership and Development with emphasis in Grant writing and Fundraising, and Nonprofit Leadership and Management. Betty has partnered with Alverno College’s Thea Bowman Institute for Excellence and Leadership. Betty has been Featured in Alverno Magazine and Alverno’s Voice Podcast.
Betty’s Servant Leadership and passion for youth and the mentoring community supports mobilizing mentoring resources and connections. In Betty’s role she will develop and oversee MGM’s Youth council, and MGM’s Advisory Council, she also provides training, resources, technical assistance for existing and developing mentor programs throughout the Greater Milwaukee Area.
Betty is the Founder of Power Gurlz Community Organization, where empowering young girls is achieved through academic coaching, financial literacy, entrepreneurship workshops, community programs, events, and small group mentoring. Betty enjoys spending time with her mentees, her daughter, and loved ones.
“If you don’t like something, change it. If you can’t change it, change your attitude.” Maya Angelou
Tina Hernandez
Getting Involved
VOLUNTEER at local Summits in your community.
DONATE services, swag, or event space to help facilitate trainings and Summits in your community. MENTOR a Black or brown girl.
COMMIT to helping by becoming a local community trainer, or attending trainings yourself.
Local Implementation
Mentoring Affiliates will utilize the structured mentor curriculum, full toolkit, and a community of practice to support mentors and meeting programs to assist Black and brown girls and young women navigate systems and access the tools, resources, and communities that help them increase their self-worth and net worth so they can achieve their ambitions for a better life.
Previous Events
Girls of Color THRIVE
St. Petersburg, Florida
MENTOR California Mentoring Girls of Color Restoration Retreat
Upland, California
Upcoming Events
MENTOR Greater Milwaukee Mentor Training: Mentoring Black and Brown Girls
June 24 – 26, 2024
Further details and registration links coming soon
- July 20 – MASS Mentoring Brockton, MA
- August 17 – The Governor’s Prevention Partnership Connecticut
- September 7 – Iowa MENTOR Ames, IA