Marietta Mentoring for Leadership

Our student leaders are HUNGRY for guidance on the next right step for their lives and while mentors provide this on the regular, we depend on local experts to step in the gap for specific needs. Big thanks to Lindsey Ramsey of Harry Norman, Realtors on Whitlock Ave for meeting with two seniors interested in a future in real estate. They left our office inspired and equipped! (and peep the fun happening in the background!)

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Big news--our team has grown! Welcome Jorge Ortiz, Caitlyn Joiner, and Cate McCollum to the Mentoring for Leadership staff! This will be our 15th year of mentoring Marietta middle and high school students thanks to the generous support of our Marietta community. Please help us welcome these three to the team!

We spy Devion Hall at the annual Marietta High School Football Coaches Steak Dinner with Mayor Tumlin! "DHall," as the kids call him, is MFL's Academic Success Coach, supporting students at the middle and high schools. He's a motivator, encourager, connector and a LIGHT and a LEADER!

Our former MMS program coordinator, and best selling author, Allie Millington, participated in a book signing at The Reading Attic for her wonderful new book, Olivetti. On hand to celebrate her success, staff, mentors, and students enjoyed an evening out on the square. Looks like we’re not the only ones who think she’s awesome, though. Check out Tom Hanks’s glowing review of the book in The New York Times. Proud to say we knew her when! 🤩

Still riding the high of last week’s graduation celebrations. For the fifth year in a row, MMFL celebrated the graduations of 100% of our seniors; 19 students in total!
Also cause for celebration: two of our students, received the Moore Ingram Johnson & Steele, LLP scholarships, and three students were recognized as Reach Scholarship winners. When we say we have “the best kids,” we mean it! 🥳👏🏻🥳👏🏻

Wishing these talented, smart, important seniors the best graduation day, and the greatest success in their future endeavors! 🥳🎓🥳🎓

We’re nearing the finish line, but we’re not quite done yet…..last week, a few of our students were given the opportunity to visit Children's Healthcare of Atlanta to learn about careers in healthcare. It was an insightful and inspiring day 🥰🐻

Michael D. Watson II was back on campus last week to share more financial tips in “Financial Literacy Part 2.”. Introduced by Eric, one of our students from the MFL Leadership Team, Michael gave some really helpful information on net worth, what a credit score is, and the difference in assets vs. liabilities. Over 25 students showed up to this optional event during testing week making it a huge success!

is blessed to have 90 mentors currently serving our students. We call these folks "heroes," but they insist that title should be reserved for the students. That's why they're awesome! While our number of mentors is strong, we have more students waiting to be paired with just the right individual--might that be you? Send us a message and let's see if we're a good fit. https://mentoringforleadership.org/contact/

students have all the "star" qualities! Last month, several of our juniors and seniors made memories for a lifetime at the MHS prom. A special thanks goes out to Catherine Welch Johnson and for donating the most beautiful bouquets so our students could step out in high style.

serves students in grades 7-12. Each student has been identified by teachers and administrators for their high potential for success. Many of our students are from lower-income families, single-parent households, or are living with guardians other than their parents. When matched with a mentor, these students have improved grades and many of them say that has taught them core values like respect, perseverance, and teamwork.

Thank you Kiwanis Club of Marietta (GA) for inviting CJ Malone and Olavi Tervo to speak about and it's lasting benefits. Your support allows our kids to thrive and we are grateful!

Can you think of a moment when your character was changed for the better? For many of us, those character changing moments come in the form of hardship or challenge. But, for those living in the challenge, it's the safe, confident, joyful times that can impact their character the most. It's hard to articulate just how thankful our seniors are for your support of their recent trip to San Antonio, so we'll just let them speak for themselves.

Thrilled to be……ladies who tea! 💐🫖
Kelly Powell Lee and Laura Powell generously hosted our senior girls and their mentors for a beautiful afternoon tea yesterday. Special shout-out to the Tuesday FPC Marietta Bible Study Ladies for providing the delicious food. It was a wonderful time to connect as women, and to encourage the girls as they embark on their journeys after graduation. Perfect quali-TEA time together 😉

to the middle of the month when our staff took 13 seniors (3 had never been on an airplane) to San Antonio to celebrate their years of dedication to the program. Our schedule was packed, and we were focused on fun, but this was also the perfect moment to assure these kids they have all the confidence they need to take on this big world after graduation. A huge "thank you" to Southwest Airlines, Marietta FUMC, and our generous community of donors for making this all possible.

The list of students waiting for mentors is a long one. Folks tell us all the time, "I'd love to be a mentor, but I just don't have enough time in my schedule." We totally get it, but people are surprised to learn how others are seamlessly integrating mentoring into their busy schedules. If you've ever felt the nudge to get involved, we'd love to talk with you to see if we can find a student who's the right fit.

Oh, what a night! Last month, invited over 200 community leaders to mingle with mentors, board members, donors and staff to learn why they are so passionate about mentoring students. Will you join us for the fun next year?!

We're still coming down from the high of our "End of the Year Celebration" this week at Marietta FUMC . It was a beautiful evening filled with heart warming stories, well-deserved awards, and endless thank you's.

We've shared the "why," now let us brag about the "who." Our people are what makes us unique. Each member of our staff has been hand selected for their field expertise, philanthropic heart, drive for the mission, and, downright, awesome personality. Pictured left to right: Meghan Daniel (Events Coordinator), Mandy Swartwood (Communications), Kristen Thompson (Executive Director), Claire Dodd (Program Coordinator), and Devion Hall (Assistant Program Coordinator)

Spotlight on two students we've been fortunate enough to have in our program: this year's Homecoming Queen, Valeria Rodriguez; and this year's Hoopcoming King, Jason Johnson. Our goal is "mentoring for leadership," and these two are the proof!

We believe......1. the most effective mentoring experience is achieved through one-on-one, long term relationships with two people who are actively engaged. 2.in the power of hands-on, life enhancing, character building encounters. 3. mentoring teaches young adults to advocate for themselves, an essential life skill. 4. people can overcome their circumstances, building self-esteem and creating a better future. 5. every person deserves the opportunity to fulfill their potential. 6.in the power of community to transform lives.

It's and is here for it! Not only do we love blessing our very deserving students, but research shows that joy increases people's creativity, knowledge, and resilience. Who can you bring joy to today?

"If you are working on something that you are really excited about, you don't have to be pushed. The vision pulls you." -Steve Jobs

Our purpose is our passion.

Watching colors pop on the is as beautiful as witnessing kids grow into their full potential.

It's March--🏀basketball season🏀--so we're taking a cue from the sport and kicking off an introduction series since we're still in the first quarter. has been around since 2010, but how well do you really know us? Stay tuned to learn who we are, what we're doing to affect the community, where we're going, and how you can help. If you like what we're about, share a post and help us spread the word! 📣