I am honored to be starting my fourth year as a mentor with the Strong Women, Strong Girls organization in Pittsburgh. The experience has been both personally and professionally rewarding. The organization is focused on empowering girls and women of all ages by delivering impactful programming across its unique tiered approach to mentoring. With programming that includes 1:1 and group mentoring, group networking and professional development opportunities, this organization delivers on its promise of empowering all who participate to focus on their inner strengths, develop strong collaboration and leadership skills, and inspire each other to build a broader and brighter future for themselves and generations of women to come.
Having worked with SWSG over the last several years as a facilitator and trainer, what stands out to me is their amazing dedication to their cause. Even our training sessions are all about them becoming a stronger resource for these girls. The women of SWSG show an unparalleled level of commitment, choosing to use their extensive knowledge and experience to help our next generations become confident powerful leaders. Natalie and her team are highly invested in making sure young girls have role models and mentors that will bring positive experiences into their lives and shape their futures, to the benefit of all of us.
I have been volunteering and supporting SWSG for 10 years now. I love the connection it builds between girls and college role models. The curriculum and programming is spectacular for both mentors and mentees. Not only does this organization build confidence in girls that are at an inflection point in their growth, but it also builds a community for passionate college women that want to impact their greater communities. The staff at SWSG is always enthusiastic, thoughtful, and grateful. After years of volunteering, I joined the Board of SWSG to further affirm my commitment to the important work that SWSG does.
One of my favorite memories of partnering with SWSG was during a field trip where the girls got to visit Boston College. The girls loved "going to class," touring the dining halls, and envisioning their future college selves excelling on campus.
I love working with SWSG for two reasons--1st: the girls they serve as well as the college mentors are absolute all-stars and every time I see them I get reinvigorated towards the mission. 2nd--the organization itself is constantly innovating. They are not happy with status quo and are always looking for ways to improve.
I have had the pleasure of mentoring via SWSG and have really enjoyed the connections I have made. Their multi-generational mentorship model is so unique and rewarding. I wish as a college student I had the opportunity to connect one on one with a professional who could advise and be a sounding board at such a transformative time in my life. I love what this organization stands for!
I started volunteering as a Strong Leader with Strong Women, Strong Girls in September 2020. The onboarding process was phenomenal: we were provided with amazing guidance and all the resources we needed to have a successful year with our mentees. The support was ongoing: even during a difficult year where in-person meetings weren't possible, SWSG ensured volunteers felt connected and had opportunities to learn from each other.
SWSG makes a major impact in our community. Their annual Strong Awards event showcased the impact they make across generations of women and girls. I was so passionate about my experience with SWSG that my employer sponsored the event. SWSG's communication throughout the donation experience was top-notch and made it easy.
I've been volunteering with SWSG for the past 2 years. The joy this program brings the girls is apparent at every event - specifically throughout Covid. For kids specifically, Covid presented a different set of challenges, and SWSG did an excellent job of hosting events despite the circumstances. Their partnership with my company makes me excited to be engaged for many years to come.
As a volunteer & mentor, SWSG has been such a rewarding experience. Between seeing the impact the program has on college mentees as well as all the girls in the program is truly amazing. Even through the pandemic, the level of engagement and excitement didnt skip a beat. I am so proud to be apart of such a great organization that advocates for strong women to lead impactful lives and achieve great things. I look forward to continue to work for such a great cause in the future.
SWSG is a fantastic organization focused on making our community stronger. Through firsthand experience, I've seen the impact that mentors have on their mentees. SWSG instills confidence, courage, and reinforces every young girl's importance in their community, school, and the world. It's been an amazing experience to be a supporter and volunteer.
I've been involved with SWSG for past six years through a corporate sponsorship. I love the mission of providing mentorship to young girls in Boston to foster and promote the idea its ok be amazing and that they can, and should, set the bar high for themselves. SWSG through their mentors and leadership does the hard work for gender equality.
I am currently a volunteer with Strong Women, Strong Girls and have been one for the past 5 years. What keeps me engaged and excited about this charity is how much I can see that the girls really enjoy and learn from the program. SWSG has also done a great job staying engaged throughout the pandemic. From hosting virtual events, like their annual Women's Leadership Breakfast, and their work with my company in particular, I feel like their message has only strengthened over time. I look forward to working with the team for many years to come!
SWSG has been an extremely rewarding experience for me, personally. At the beginning of last year I spent a long time searching to find a nonprofit that helps to support women in all stages of their lives and this program is exceptional. I joined the Strong Leader program to mentor college women who aspire to do great things, help encourage them and hear their stories. It has been nothing less than amazing to work with this nonprofit and be able to pass along what I've learned to help another woman in her early career.
When I first started with SWSG, I didn't quite know what to expect. I was a bit intimidated by the talented, smart, and well rounded mentors I was placed with. However, these same women wound up becoming my safety net, teaching me how to become more comfortable with myself and my skills as a mentor. The support didn't stop with the mentors though. I've received countless encouraging e-mails from members of both the Boston and National offices. I've been given constructive feedback to better serve the girls. I've been told that I'm making a difference in the lives of students in Boston. What an awesome feeling! In the year since I first joined SWSG, I have grown dramatically. I attribute this growth not only to the women I've met, but also the girls. I was able to mentor at two dramatically different sites, both of which gave me insight to the challenges faced by the youth of Boston. The girls needed different things from me, and I was able to learn to meet their needs. Additionally, I was invited to mentor at the first ever SWSG Summer Site, working with girls at a Community Health Center in Cambridge, MA. Here, I was given the opportunity to mentor with women from Simmons College and Harvard University. I had the opportunity to learn more about the different chapters of SWSG and the ways we can unite to strengthen the organization even more. As if this weren't enough, I was elected to the Execuitive Board at Northeastern University in January 2009. In this position, I serve as the Co-Chair of the Events Committee, planning all of the events for our mentors. SWSG has been, and will continue to be, an enormous part of my life. I appreciate all of the support I receive from my co-mentors, the Boston and National Offices, and the supporters of the organization. Being a mentor has certainly shaped my college experience, and I am proud to say that I feel comfortable with my status as a 'strong woman.'