Program Overview

The HGS Mentoring Program connects collegiate members of the National Society of Black Physicists (NSBP) and students from colleges and universities across the country with middle and high school students who share similar sociocultural backgrounds and interests.

By connecting young people with mentors who have shared experiences and interests, the program helps mentees build meaningful relationships with role models they can relate to and learn from. Mentors support students in a variety of ways, serving as subject-matter experts, tutors, guides, and trusted confidants. They also participate in extracurricular programming, helping create structured and engaging learning opportunities beyond the classroom.

Modes of Engagement

Weekly Curated Conversations
Mentors meet with their mentees for at least 30 minutes each week, guided by curated conversation topics and activities. The first several weeks focus on building trust and establishing a strong mentor-mentee relationship before shifting toward personal, academic, and professional development.

Cohort Events
Each month, mentees, mentors, and mentor leaders come together for an exclusive seminar led by a distinguished professional. These events connect STEM disciplines with everyday life, lived experiences, and the sociocultural backgrounds of program participants.

STEAM Kits
Mentees have the opportunity to select STEAM kits designed to facilitate hands-on projects and exploration. Working alongside their mentors, students can apply new concepts, develop technical skills, and engage with STEAM in tangible and creative ways.

Mindfulness Training
Mindfulness is integrated into the program to help participants strengthen focus, self-awareness, and resilience. By developing the ability to be present and engaged, mentees gain skills that can support their academic, professional, and personal growth.

Building Community and Opportunity

Through mentorship, hands-on learning, and community-building, HGS aims to expand awareness of STEM careers while fostering a strong sense of belonging. The program empowers both mentors and mentees, creating opportunities for personal growth, academic development, and professional exploration.

For more information, contact Matthew Lopez, Mentoring Program Director, at matthew@hgs-ny.org.

Our Partners

The National Society of Black Physicists (NSBP) develops and supports efforts to expand opportunities for African Americans in physics while increasing their representation and the visibility of their scientific contributions.

The Harlem Gallery of Science is operated through a partnership between The City College of New York and Science and Arts Engagement New York, with the goal of attracting and preparing youth from marginalized communities to pursue opportunities in Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics (STEAM).

The Dream and Inspire: Mentoring Future Leaders Program is made possible through a collaborative community effort. We are grateful to the organizations that help us create opportunities for New York City youth to gather, grow, learn, and explore their potential, including the National Society of Black Physicists, Hamilton Grange Middle School, New York Math Academy, Eagle Academy of Harlem, Brian Simmons Mindfulness, West Harlem Development Corporation, Simons Foundation, The Shed, and BioBus.