Youth Voice: Girls L.E.A.P. at the National Mentoring Summit
Year after year, National Mentoring Summit attendees cite the prevalence of youth voice as one of their favorite parts of the event. To that end, we were honored this year to provide scholarships for a group of young people to attend the Summit so they could share their stories, connect with leaders in the mentoring field, and experience in person the magnitude and power of the national mentoring movement. We were grateful to bring this group of young people to share, learn, and be in community with more than 1,300 attendees through the generosity of the National Football League.
We’ve asked Queen, Abena, Tendai, and Kennedy to share their insights on the Summit, Capitol Hill Day, and the role of mentoring in their lives. These scholars are participants in Girls L.E.A.P. Mentoring Program, a Columbus, Ohio-based mentoring program that aims to educate, inspire, and empower girls and help them reach their full potential as changemakers in their communities.
Queen Garsoo is a sophomore at Gahanna Lincoln High School. She is a member of the school’s dance team, choir, and culture club, and she is active in her church’s media ministry and Girls L.E.A.P. She plans to attend college after she graduates high school.
“Mentorship means a lot to me because I know the impact it had on me and how it helped me find a sense of belonging. When I first moved back to Ohio, I felt very alone and sad. The worst part about that was I didn’t know who to tell, how to express my feelings, or even just how to cope. Finding Girls L.E.A.P. helped me so much with understanding exactly what I was facing and how to go about getting help with the transitions I was going through. I really enjoyed being able to work with other mentor groups, not only within the same state as me but others as well. It was great to see a community of people who really believed in mentoring and its impact advocate for it. Everyone seemed to really have passion for mentoring, and the sessions furthered our knowledge of mentoring and showed true growth in the field.”
“I really enjoyed the session on women and girls of color, because I feel as though in the room there was lots of community and it was very uplifting. There was much diversity within the session, which is something that stood out to me. The Summit was very eye-opening to me. It helped me in ways that I never expected. The Summit allowed me to learn to speak on the things I believe in and even just to believe in myself, and that though I am a young teen I can make a big impact.”
Abena Opoku-Kesse attends St. Francis DeSales High School in Columbus, Ohio. She is a member of the dance team and has danced for the school’s World Culture Assembly and Black History Assembly. She hopes to be an OB-GYN in the future.
“I think mentoring is important because you need some type of guidance to keep you on the right track. Mentoring comes with encouragement, and that one person telling you, “You are worth it,” “I’m proud of you,” and, “Keep going,” can make you feel heard and feel that you are doing something right. Mentoring is there to shape and guide you and impact many lives.”
“Going into the Summit, I was especially excited for Capitol Hill Day because not many people get to go into the Capitol building and say what they advocate for. I was nervous on Capitol Hill Day, but I surprised myself with how I was able to talk at every single meeting and speak my truth. Then and there, I found out the importance of mentoring.”
“The topic and theme that resonated with me was the Black and Brown girls session. I struggle with loving my natural hair because of how thick it is and how hard it is to maintain. Watching all the Black and Brown girls speak so positively about their hair and skin made me realize that my hair is beautiful, and God took his time with making every single strand thick and curly. “
Tendai Mandebvu is a senior at Big Walnut High School. She enjoys dancing and trying new foods, and after high school she hopes to attend college and major in finance.
“I think mentoring is very important and can greatly impact someone’s life. Mentoring plays a big part in developing more leadership and communication skills. Personally, my mentor gave me many opportunities that I would not have had if it wasn’t for them. For example, I got to attend this amazing trip to the Summit, and it’s all because of my mentor.”
“My expectations were being able to talk with others and connect. I was definitely most excited about talking to U.S. Representatives and Senators and their staff and to get to inform them on the importance of mentoring. My favorite part had to be Capitol Hill Day. Getting to actually speak to these officials made me feel like we were making more of an impact; the tone of our voices, the amount of people in the room, and showing emotion.”
Kennedy Skipper is a senior at Fort Hayes Metropolitan Education Center. She participates in productions at school and enjoys singing and reading. After graduation, she plans to take advantage of the Columbus Promise and attend Columbus State Community College.
“Mentorship is very important. I believe it’s important because mentors are the ones who guide you and let you know when you’re wrong or right. My mentor has always helped me keep my dreams alive and active – even when I may have forgotten them.”
“Capitol Hill Day was great. It felt exhilarating to be in meetings with government officials. One thing that resonated with me was seeing how so many people there wanted to advocate for young people just like me. This was my first time at the Summit, and I thought everything was great.”
Queen, Abena, Tendai, and Kennedy’s voices and experiences added valuable perspective and insight to the 2024 Summit. We are grateful for their presence and look forward to supporting other young people in joining the mentoring movement in years to come.