New York State Mentoring Program

06/08/2026

FYI - the beautiful souls in these photos are nothing short of remarkable. They help lead the Latina Mentoring Initiative (LMI) on top of their daily roles as educators, advocates and social workers. They are the true leaders making a difference, and worthy of all the praise and recognition.

Our 2nd Annual Site Coordinator Celebration was intended to create joy and honor each of them for being the superstars they are every day. It is an honor to work alongside such of them and we are inspired by all that they do for the youth of New York. They ARE the , our glue! They are changing lives and making NYS better for all of us.

💪Thank you to the incredible and selfless LMI Committee Members who made our 2nd Annual Site Coordinator Celebration a success.

✨️Thank you to New York State Higher Education Services Corporation and the New York State Justice Center for the Protection of People with Special Needs for co-sponsoring the evening and being such strong supporters of Governor Hochul’s Latina Mentoring Initiative. Thanks to your support, gift bags and raffles were possible.

🙏A big thank you to the various partners who sponsored the evening’s details to make our LMI Site Coordinators feel appreciated and who also supported LMI efforts throughout the year.

05/07/2026

This is dedicated to Doris B. Gonzalez. The Latina Mentoring Initiative has experienced so many wonderful opportunities and this week we welcomed Acting President of , Doris B. Gonzalez , for an LMI session in Queen. Doris donated her time to share her journey with our 9th and 10th grade mentees at .

A full circle moment, Doris is also a William Cullen Bryant High School alumna! Sharing her journey was a true gift for these students who see themselves in her story. Highlighting the importance of empowering others on your way up and affirming one’s cultural roots as a super power, Doris inspired all of us! A current LMI Mentor in the Bronx, Doris has gone above and beyond to support the Latina Mentoring Initiative with her generosity and demonstrating why matters! We are tremendously grateful to Doris B. Gonzalez and to LMI Committee Member, Nadia Chanza for recruiting another poderosa to join the movement to mentor Latina youth in NY!

# mentoring

04/22/2026

What a better way to spend than at ABC News with . The Latina Mentoring Initiative mentees from , and were treated to a fireside chat and studio tour thanks to the ABC News team. Stephanie Ramos shared her journey to becoming a news correspondent and serving in the military. Thank you, Stephanie Ramos, for being a and sharing your incredible and inspiring story with our girls today!

03/14/2026

Community centers provide so much collective care and this is why Sunnyside Community Services was the perfect partner for LMI! We are so grateful to the incredible mentors at for hosting our newest program with mentees in Queens! A special thank you to .noboa , Associate Executive Director for Older Adult Services, for building this partnership with us to empower our future Latina leaders!

03/08/2026

Happy International Women’s Day to every woman making this world a place where our youth can thrive! Thank you to all program partners, Committee Members, Mentors, and LMI Site Coordinators for creating community for our future leaders by inspiring, empowering and uplifting them!

02/02/2026

“We are the ones we’ve been waiting for. We are the change that we seek.” - Barack Obama

Today and every day we celebrate the voices and achievements that have shaped our country and the world! Happy Black History Month!

01/21/2026

Join us for our upcoming webinar: Pouring into Our Communities: Modeling Collective Care for the Next Generation of Latinas via zoom at 6:30 PM, Wednesday, February 11th, 2026. We are honored to have experts, Dr. Audrey Erazo-Trivino, Associate Commissioner for the NYS Office of Mental Health’s Office of Prevention and Health Initiatives, and Mirtha Brea, Founder of Sagrada Soul Wellness .wellness , as our panelists.

One of LMI’s core goals is to create a culturally responsive space for Latina youth that fosters community and serves as an intersection where Latina mentors can share resources, serve as containers, and encourage advocacy. The webinar will highlight how mentors pour into their communities; the ways we can utilize our traditions and ancestral practices to anchor our collective care; and how we can serve as collective care role models for the next generation of Latinas.

💻Register today, link is in our bio!

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01/07/2026

NYMP is privileged to continue it's long standing and growing partnership with Brentwood Union Free School District!

🤝 Middle school and Freshman Campus students recently joined a peer mediation training with Diane Urso from the NYS Mentoring Program to sharpen communication conflict resolution and leadership skills. They’re ready to support their peers with empathy and make our schools stronger and more connected! 🌟✨

These training sessions support the district’s Graduation PLUS+ vision by strengthening leadership responsibility and purpose among students. By equipping student leaders with tools to guide and support their peers, the district continues its commitment to building a culture rooted in belonging empowerment and shared responsibility.

09/19/2025

Happy ! What better way to support and uplift the next generation than to volunteer as a mentor?! We are currently looking for mentors for our East Harlem location, serving youth in foster care, ages 16 to 21. Link in bio to apply or message us for more details.

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