The HGS Mentoring Program pairs collegiate members of the National Society of Black Physicists (NSBP) and schools across the nation, with middle or high school-aged participants who share similar sociocultural backgrounds and interests. Providing youth with mentors of similar backgrounds connects each mentee with a role model they can relate to, allowing them to form meaningful relationships. Mentors can serve as in-class area experts, tutors or simply act as a confidant. They play similar roles in extracurricular programs to provide structured learning environments outside of school hours.

Modes of Engagement:

• Weekly Curated Conversations

  • Mentors meet with their mentees for at least 30 minutes a week, and provide a set of curated conversation topics and activities. The first several weeks focus on building trust and developing the relationship. The focus then shifts to personal, academic and professional development.

• Cohort Events

  • Once a month, the entire cohort of mentees, mentors, and mentor leaders are brought together for exclusive seminars, delivered by a distinguished professional. Cohort Events blend STEM disciplines with everyday life and the sociocultural backgrounds of participants.

• STEM Kits

  • Mentees are given the opportunity to choose STEAM kits: tools to facilitate hands-on technology projects, which they can work on with their mentor.

• Mindfulness Training

  • We include mindfulness training in our programming because being present and tuned-in is a key element of success.

HGS aims to increase awareness of STEM careers, while promoting feelings of community and belonging. The result is the empowerment of mentors and mentees alike, as well as both academic and professional development.

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

National Society of Black Physicists develops and supports efforts to increase opportunities for African Americans in physics and to increase their numbers as well as the visibility of their scientific work.

The Harlem Gallery of Science is operated through a partnership between The City College of New York and Science and Arts Engagement New York for the purpose of attracting and preparing youth from marginalized communities to enter Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics (STEAM) disciplines and careers.

The Dream and Inspire: Mentoring Future Leaders Program is a collaborative community effort. Thank you to the organizations that help us enrich the lives of NYC youth: National Society of Black Physicists, Hamilton Grange Middle School, New York Math Academy, Eagle Academy of Harlem, Brian Simmons Mindfulness, West Harlem Development Corporation, Simon’s Foundation, The Shed, and BioBus who have provided us opportunities to gather, grow and learn!