2024 National Mentoring Summit

January 24 – 26, 2024

The Westin Washington, DC Downtown (formerly known as the Renaissance)

Convened annually by MENTOR during National Mentoring Month, the National Mentoring Summit is an opportunity for mentoring practitioners, researchers, philanthropic investors, youth leaders, government and civic leaders, and Affiliates from across the country to unite under the shared goal of driving positive change for young people. Attendees have the opportunity to learn from one another, form new connections, and explore best practices for strengthening and expanding the youth mentoring movement.

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For any questions regarding the Summit, please email Summit@mentoring.org

Be the Change for Communities powered by EY

Every day, mentors and mentoring practitioners show up for young people as agents of opportunity and catalysts for change. Meet MENTOR’s new CEO, Jermaine Myrie, and Grammy-nominated musician, SaulPaul, who will lead attendees through an interactive, purpose-filled session dedicated to celebrating this commitment to making positive change in diverse communities across the country and around the world.

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Mentoring Black & Brown Girls

Healthy connections are critical for establishing trust and helping young people build confidence, self-esteem, and feelings of safety. These meaningful connections are especially important when it comes to mentoring and empowering Black and brown girls. This dynamic session will include storytelling, performance, and an exploration of how mentoring can support, uplift and celebrate Black and brown girls.

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Cultivating a Culture of Care and Well-Being

The loneliness epidemic and mental health crisis in our country has significant implications within the mentoring movement. To serve young people well, the mentoring movement must holistically nurture and support the well-being of mentoring practitioners, mentors, and the young people they serve. Self-care ritualist, Dr. Falami, will keynote this interactive session and explore the critical role of self and collective care, creativity, play, and healing in cultivating a culture of care and well-being. 

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SPEAKER SPOTLIGHT

Jermaine Myrie

Jermaine Myrie, CEO of MENTOR – Jermaine Myrie is a high-functioning and influential strategy and development professional with over 20 years of leadership experience across private and non-profit businesses.

Jermaine holds a Master of Arts in Teaching, with a focus on secondary education, from Simmons University. He also has a bachelor’s degree in English, with a minor in Sociology from Morehouse College.

Before joining MENTOR, Jermaine was the Chief External Affairs Officer for uAspire. His work focused on developing the vision and providing leadership for the organization-wide activities and strategies around generating, maintaining, and increasing revenue across multiple channels — institutional, individual, and fee-for-service development and brand building through targeted marketing and communications.

Jermaine currently serves as the Interim Board Chair for The Literacy Lab, a national non-profit that provides students in communities experiencing racial and/or economic inequities-with evidence-based, culturally responsive literacy instruction as preparation for academic, professional, and personal success. He is also a board member of the American Cancer Society-New England. Jermaine spent ten years on the Boston Preparatory Charter School board with additional service on numerous other boards.

Jermaine’s leadership and commitment to the community are strong. He has volunteered for over 15 years at the Yawkey Boys and Girls Club of Boston, working with over 120 young people each year as part of the Manny Wilson Educational and Basketball Program, and coaches youth baseball and basketball in his local community. Jermaine resides in Massachusetts.

SaulPaul

SaulPaul is a 3X GRAMMY Nominated Musician with a Message. He has also presented 3 TEDx Talks, performed at the Kennedy Center for Performing Arts and been featured on America’s Got Talent. His life story of transitioning from tragedy to triumph has been told on screen via the documentary Tower to Tower as well as via his memoir Be The Change.

Recognizing an inherent responsibility to give back, SaulPaul founded the SaulPaul Foundation. The SaulPaul Foundation is a launchpad for young people. And a platform for community members to serve as community leaders through acts of kindness, volunteerism and philanthropy.

In addition to using his creativity in the studio, on the stage, and in his community service, SaulPaul also uses it in his philanthropy. Most recently he launched CHANGE Water, an alkaline water company that is making the world a better place. With each case of water sold, CHANGE Water gives back to the local community where it was sold. To date, 100,000 students in 32 States across the US have benefited.

Whether via art, entrepreneurship or community service, SaulPaul is committed to #BeTheChange.

Videos
TEDx Talk: https://www.ted.com/talks/saul_paul_how_can_we_all_be_the_change

Rise: https://youtube.com/watch?v=efDTGZxovJ4

Be The Change: https://video.pbsnc.org/video/saul-paul-be-change-ihzkvi/

Dr. Falami

Dr. Y. “Falami” Devoe also known as “Dr. Falami” is a Public Speaker, Facilitator, Educator, Space Holder, and Self-Care Ritualist.

She is passionate about facilitating and curating’ intentional spaces for authentic dialogue, self-reflection, and community building. Dr. Falami specializes in community conversations with higher education institutions,  secondary institutions, and nonprofit organizations. Her conversations focus on a holistic approach to the development of strategies for cultivating a culture of well-being and enhancing one’s care of self. She has facilitated training for hundreds of participants across the United States focusing on self and collective care, leading from within, and mindfulness.

Dr. Falami is the Founder and the Self-Care Ritualist of Dr. Falami, LLC, a private well-being practice offering coaching, consulting, and holistic practices such as sound healing and reiki offerings and more.

She received her PhD from the Graduate School of Leadership and Change at Antioch University. She is a Certified Holistic Health Coach and a proud member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.

Connect with Dr. Y. Falami Devoe @ LinkedIn-https://www.linkedin.com/in/yfalami

Stephanie Malia Krauss

Stephanie Malia Krauss is an educator, social worker, and leading voice on what kids need to thrive now and in the future. Through her consulting shop, First Quarter Strategies, Stephanie works with US-based networks, coalitions, philanthropies, nonprofits, government organizations, schools, and community groups. She is the author of Whole Child, Whole Life: 10 Ways to Help Kids Live, Learn, and Thrive and Making It: What Today’s Kids Need for Tomorrow’s World. Stephanie’s work and writing have been featured on NPR, PBS, US News, Insider, and more. Stephanie is a senior fellow with the CERES Institute for Children & Youth at Boston University and Education Northwest. To learn more about Stephanie and sign up for her newsletter, visit www.stephaniemaliakrauss.com.

Toni Lampley

Toni Lampley joined IOWA Mentor in December 2020. As the mentoring program officer, 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 subgrantees as well as community and businesses who partner with the State of Iowa in these efforts.

Prior to coming to IOWA Mentor, Toni Jackson Lampley served major Iowa companies in the areas of sales, retail management, interior design/construction, professional development, and entrepreneurship, spanning a 27-year career. Nationally, Toni has worked for major companies in event planning: Women of Faith and Echolight Cinemas, where she managed volunteers and mentored women in their faith.

Toni is an author, and certified life coach who assists individuals in designing their lives. She enjoys being a part of a team that understands the importance of building relationships and leading with emotional intelligence to meet needs, goals, and objectives.

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.

Dr. Elizabeth Santiago

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.

Journey Hightower

My name is Journey Hightower, I am currently a first-generation college student at the University of Kentucky majoring in Psychology with a minor in gender-women studies in my third year. I currently serve as a Resident Advisor on campus, an intern in the Multicultural center, a storytelling Fellow with The Untold Narratives, and the president of an organization named Black Is Gold University.  I plan to graduate from the University of Kentucky in May 2025. I look forward to opening my own therapy practice for kids and families.

Mia Prince

Mia Prince is a rising sophomore at the University of Kentucky pursuing a Bachelors in Sports Broadcasting with a double minor in journalism and Fashion Merchandising. Mia hopes to aid in the diversification of male dominated fields through her efforts in becoming the representation for young Afro-Latina women. She hopes to one day launch a nonprofit to support and mentor those within her own community who are hoping to enter fields lacking Black and Hispanic role models. Mia is currently a Storytelling Fellow with The Untold Narratives.

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

Marcus Strother

Marcus Strother is the President and CEO 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 is a 25-year veteran 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.

AmiraThePoet

Amira Adams also known as AmiraThePoet is a recent graduate as a Thea Bowman Scholar from Alverno College in Milwaukee Wisconsin. Graduating with a major in communication and a minor in Creative writing, Amira served as Ombudsperson for Student Government, President of the Black student Alliance, and a peer leader. Amira’s Goal is to continue to not only teach but inspire through the art of poetry. Amira uses poetry as a tool to educate and inspire youth, peers, educators and executives. She is a change maker and community advocate for social justice and human rights.

St. Clair Detrick-Jules

St. Clair Detrick-Jules is an award-winning filmmaker, photographer, author, activist, and public speaker. She captures personal stories and intimate moments centering Black liberation, immigrant justice, and women’s rights. An Afro-Caribbean artist who remains rooted in her community, St. Clair grounds her work in radical love, joy and the knowledge that a more just world is possible.

St. Clair has a BA from Brown University in French and Francophone Studies. She has been featured in The Washington Post, Washingtonian Magazine, BuzzFeed News, The Christian Science Monitor, Byrdie, and NPR’s Strange Fruit, among others. Her documentary DACAmented has received awards at Immigration Film Fest, Baltimore International Black Film Festival, Ogden City Latino Film Festival, and Cornell University’s Centrally Isolated Film Festival. Her books My Beautiful Black Hair and My Hair Is Like the Sun showcase the beauty of natural Black hair. St. Clair currently resides in her hometown of Washington, DC.

Roxy Magno

Roxy Magno lives and works in Hilltop Tacoma, Washington. She earned a Master’s Degree from the University of Washington in Social Work and currently works at the Multicultural Child and Family Hope Center as the Director of Outreach Services. Roxy has worked in the community, in Early Learning, with youth & young adults, and families for 13 years. She has a passion for serving her community and being a significant change agent in systems that we interact with on a daily basis.

Turner Cagle

Turner Cagle was raised in Tacoma, Washington. He earned an Associate’s Degree from Wenatchee Valley College in Arts and Science and also holds a CDA from the National CDA Council. Turner has worked at the Multicultural Child and Family Hope Center for over 20 years as an ECEAP Preschool Lead Teacher and School-Age Lead Teacher. He has embedded himself into the community by investing his time into the youth and young adults in both Early Learning environments and through coaching basketball.

Harley Frost

Harley Frost’s life has been profoundly influenced by her strong, God-fearing grandmother and mother, both exemplifying independence and resilience. Unfortunately, in sixth grade, Harley faced the devastating loss of her grandmother, which triggered a period of depression. This struggle intensified in her sophomore year of college when seven childhood friends, including Harley, faced the tragic loss of their lives to suicide.

The passing of her friends took a toll on Harley’s emotional well-being, impacting her grades and making it a challenging time during her sophomore year of college. The weight of grief and academic pressures became a formidable challenge for her to navigate.

Amidst these struggles, a pivotal connection emerged during her sophomore year through STALE (Starving Artist Let’s Eat), part of Hip-Hope’s Music Saves program. Introduced to Bo James, Harley found solace and support through music and this artistic community. When asked to sum up what STALE meant to her, Harley fittingly chose the term “LIFE SAVER.” In her own words, “Without music and STALE, I would not be standing here in front of all of you today, talking and laughing with you all.”

One of Harley’s transformative pieces is the song “ME” (Mentally Exhausted), a poignant composition converted from a suicide letter. This powerful anthem serves as a cathartic expression for Harley and resonates with anyone facing similar mental health challenges. Today, she performs “ME” not only for herself but also as a beacon of hope for others, acknowledging the struggles and encouraging resilience through the healing power of music.

Sabian T. Pleasant

Sabian T. Pleasant was born and raised in Jackson, Mississippi. Through time, Sabian has been privileged to teach and choreograph dance all throughout the city of Jackson, Mississippi. In 2001, Sabian moved to Tacoma, WA and instantly began to teach and dance for Metropolitan Ballet of Tacoma for 10 years, under the direction of Damaris Caughlan. There he participated in performances such as “Celebrate his Birth”, “Those Who Trespass”, “Dance Me to the End of Love”, and many more. In 2008, he was given the opportunity to teach Hip Hop at Surrender School of the Arts and is currently still there. Sabian is now the Executive Director of his very own Dance Company called PleasantMovement. In 2015, Mr Pleasant began working for the Multicultural Child & Family Hope Center where he established a contractual relationship with an Arts Integrated Program called “Arts Impact” located in Seattle, WA.

In 2017 Sabian performed with a group called DaNell Daymon & Greater Works on the NBC television show “America’s Got Talent” Providing choreography for 40 plus performances on a variety of platforms.

“I am thrilled to be a part of this awesome event once again! The Summit is an amazing opportunity to sharpen and refine our skills. Thanks for having us back!”

Ernesto Anguilla

Ernesto Anguilla is a Partner and Head of Communications & Public Affairs for Bain Capital, LP, a private investment firm with approximately $160 billion in assets under management and offices on four continents. In his role, Anguilla oversees all aspects of communications, brand and public affairs – including media relations, corporate communications, government relations and philanthropy – for the firm. Prior to joining Bain Capital, Anguilla worked at Bank of America for more than eight years in a variety of communications roles. Most recently, he was communications executive for the company’s Global Marketing and Corporate Affairs group, where he oversaw corporate communications for a number of functions including brand, marketing, corporate social responsibility and local public relations. Earlier in his career, Anguilla was press secretary to U.S. Congressman Patrick J. Kennedy of Rhode Island. He also worked at Lois Paul & Partners, a public relations firm in Massachusetts focused on the technology space, and as a reporter and editor for the Warwick Beacon, a twice-weekly newspaper in Warwick, Rhode Island. Anguilla graduated from Trinity College in Hartford, Connecticut with a Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science in 1999. He is currently Chair of the Board of Directors for MENTOR, recently served as the Chair of the CEO Search Committee, and served as Vice Chair of the Board for 5 years previously.  He also serves on the Board of Directors of the Lyric Stage of Boston, a theater in Boston’s Back Bay neighborhood. Anguilla lives in Newton, Massachusetts with his wife, Melissa, and children, Elliot, Luca and Beatrice.

Genevieve Robinson

Current Junior Mentor, Genevieve Robinson joined Science Club for Girls as a 1st-grader eager to explore STEM and be led by women-in-STEM mentors. As a participant, she was given the opportunity to take risks and make mistakes and as a result, she gained confidence in herself, in her ideas and in her abilities. As a senior in high school, she plans to continue studying Biochemistry and Physics in college. Additionally, she hopes to be a role model for girls of color who are interested in pursuing science.

Natasha Baptiste

Natasha Baptiste joined Science Club for Girls as the Volunteer Manager in June, 2023. She has since recruited and onboarded over 200 STEM mentors for 12 clubs operating in the Greater Boston area. Prior to this experience, she was a special education teacher and career coach. Natasha is passionate about human development and enjoys cultivating joy in learning. She is excited to be a part of SCFG’s continued growth.

In her free time, Natasha provides development support to Show & Tell Boston, an inclusive arts collective.

She holds a M.Ed. in Applied Behavior Analysis & Autism from Cambridge College and a B.A. in English from UMass Boston.

Sarah Weiner

Sarah Weiner has been a science ambassador in the Greater Boston area for over a decade. She holds dual degrees in Astronomy and Physics from Boston University and has been involved in informal STEM education at the Advent School, the MIT Museum, the Museum of Science, and more. Since joining Science Club for Girls in 2022, Sarah has managed volunteer-led science clubs for K-12 students in underserved communities of Boston and Cambridge. These clubs consist of hands-on, experiential activities with a variety of materials and original curriculum that are always 100% free to participants. She also coordinates trips, workshops, and activities for SCFG’s teenage participants related to college, career, and confidence-building. Sarah is passionate about making STEM topics fun, relevant, and accessible to every member of our community.

Desireé 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 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.

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January 24 - 26, 2024. It is an in-person-only event taking place at The Westin Washington, DC Downtown (formerly known as the Renaissance) 999 9th Street NW Washington, DC 20001, US.

The cost for the in-person Summit is $450 and includes onsite access to over 80 workshops, 3 main stage plenary sessions, breakfast and lunch for two days, and access to an evening networking reception with appetizers and beverages.

The Summit will be held at the Westin Washington, DC Downtown at 999 9th St NW, Washington, DC 20001. This location was home to the National Mentoring Summit from 2015 until 2020. As of October 4, 2023, the name of this property changed from the Renaissance to the Westin Washington, DC Downtown.

Unfortunately, we are only accepting payment via credit card.

If you are having trouble registering or have general questions, please email Summit@mentoring.org and let us know how we can assist you.

Yes, we offer a group registration option for groups of 10 or more. Please reach out to Summit@mentoring.org to coordinate group registration and payment.

This year we are focusing on our in-person experience. We are excited to return to our host hotel, the Westin Washington, DC Downtown. After the Summit, we will share the full plenary sessions online for our remote audience. Check out mentoring.org for more virtual opportunities to participate in throughout the year.

We can transfer your registration to a colleague at no charge. If you would like to make a registration transfer, please contact Summit@mentoring.org with the name and email of your replacement.

Refund Policy

Refund requests for the 2024 National Mentoring Summit conference must be made in writing to Summit@mentoring.org on or prior to December 26, 2023.

A 75% refund of the registration fee shall be given for cancellations received on or prior to November 27, 2023.

A 50% refund of the registration fee shall be given for cancellations received on or prior to December 26, 2023.

No refunds shall be made after December 26, 2023.

Yes, we will have a Welcome Reception on Wednesday, January 24, 2024 and a Networking Reception on Thursday, January 25, 2024.  Stay tuned for more information.

Thank you for your interest! Registration for Capitol Hill Day opens Monday, Oct. 30, 2023 and will close on Friday, Jan. 12, 2024 or when the event's registration cap is reached. Please contact Caden Fabbi to learn more about registration for Capitol Hill Day 2024.

Please reach out to Summit@mentoring.org with any questions regarding your login or to request a receipt if you did not receive one.

MENTOR aims to ensure the Summit will be an inclusive experience for all attendees. All attendees will have the opportunity to specify accessibility needs in their registration. If you have any questions about accessibility at the Summit, please contact summit@mentoring.org.

Yes! Discover the added value of a free Marriot Bonvoy membership during your stay. Enjoy free high-speed Wi-Fi, easy in-room dining, convenient mobile check-in and room keys, as well as access to premium amenities. Learn more about how to make the most of these benefits for a seamless experience here.

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  • MENTOR National and Affiliates will use the information you provide to better inform future publications and keep you up to date with advancements in the mentoring field. For more information, check out our privacy policy.