Step Up Highlights
As 2024 comes to a close, we’re excited to share highlights from our recent events, including Step Up Saturday, Explore Career Pathways, and Power Talks. Plus, meet one of our incredible fellows, Taylor Green, and learn how you can get involved to support the next generation of leaders!
Teen Programs
Step Up Saturday offers teens (ages 14-18) a dynamic, inspiring space to connect with mentors from various fields, sparking creativity and fostering meaningful relationships between mentors and mentees. With past events hosted in partnership with Sloomoo Institute in Atlanta, New York, and Chicago, we're thrilled to announce that Step Up Saturday came to Houston and Los Angeles! These events provide a unique blend of networking, hands-on experiences, and mentorship, creating unforgettable opportunities for teens to grow and thrive.
In Houston, 10 teens and four mentors joined forces for a day packed with interactive activities, slime-making, and insightful mentorship discussions. One of the teens shared how much she enjoyed learning about the slime-making process and hearing about the diverse career paths of the mentors in the room.
In Los Angeles, special guest mentors Danielle Robay and Mirtha Michelle joined Step Up teens and mentors for yet another day of mentorship focused on fun and social capital skill-building.
With the support of our incredible partners Accenture and Ulta Beauty, Step Up hosted Explore Career Pathways sessions focused on helping teens broaden their horizons and consider new and exciting career pathways.
At Accenture in Los Angeles, teens from East College Prep were introduced to the dynamic world of marketing. The experience was eye-opening, showing them how diverse and expansive the marketing field can be. They left feeling inspired and eager to explore career paths they hadn’t considered before.
Next, 25 Step Up teen girls from John F. Kennedy High School in Chicago were invited to Ulta Beauty for an immersive career exploration day. The event brought together the students and 25 Ulta Beauty mentors, allowing the girls to experience firsthand what it's like to work across various teams within the company. From a fireside chat to speed mentoring and hands-on activities like a Cybersecurity session and a mock merchandising meeting, the day sparked new ideas and opened the girls' eyes to the endless career possibilities within the beauty and retail industry.
Young Adult Programs
Step Up had the privilege of hosting Power Talks at two universities: Agnes Scott College in Decatur, Georgia, and Texas Women’s University in Denton, Texas.
As part of Agnes Scott College's First-Gen Week celebrations, 19 young adults, 5 mentors, and 3 incredible panelists came together to discuss the value of social capital and how to build authentic, purposeful professional relationships. The panelists included Terra Gay, Managing Director of Culture and Equity at Charles R. Drew Charter School in Atlanta; Shila Nieves Burney, founder and managing partner of Zane Venture Fund; and April Carr, an Atlanta native and PepsiCo Global Transformation Senior Director. The conversation was engaging, with students eager to connect with mentors who could offer valuable advice and guidance.
At Texas Women’s University, we hosted another "Power Talks: Who's in Your Circle?" with Karen “KJ” Johnson as the keynote speaker. The event brought together 72 young adults and 9 mentors to discuss strategies for building and maintaining positive, meaningful relationships that contribute to long-term success. Karen “KJ” Johnson is a recognized leader known for her inspiring women’s empowerment speeches and exceptional leadership. As the Chief Empowerment Officer and Executive Coach at The Konfident Woman, she helps women unlock their full potential, develop executive presence, and cultivate lasting self-confidence.
Meet a Step Up Fellow
Name: Taylor Green
Role at School: Site Coordinator/Mentor
Step Up School: Mount Zion High School, Atlanta
Number of Years at School: 2 years
In our interview with Step Up fellow Taylor Green, we asked her about her experience being a fellow and got an inside look at what it's like leading Step Up girls!
Q: Why do you think Step Up on Campus is a good fit for Mount Zion High School?
A: Step Up is an excellent fit at Mount Zion because it demonstrates a strong commitment to empowering our young women and creating a welcoming, inclusive learning atmosphere. Mount Zion's ideals of academic performance, student well-being, and preparing scholars for success after high school align perfectly with the program's emphasis on building relationships, leadership development, and personal growth.
Q: Why did you decide to become a fellow?
A: My decision to become a Fellow comes from a desire to support youth in reaching their full potential and positively influence their communities. The power of mentorship, guidance, and a strong support system can transform lives.
Q: How do you recruit students for the program?
A: I was able to recruit Fellows through a combination of promotion (flyers around the building, morning announcements, student portal), engagement, and clear communication about the program's advantages. In addition, having the Fellows 'tell a friend to tell a friend' helped
Q: What are you most looking forward to as a fellow this semester?
A: As a Fellow in Step Up this semester, I’m most looking forward to building meaningful connections with students, empowering young women to discover their voices, and creating safe spaces for honest conversations about 'the real world' after high school.
Q: Anything else you want to share with our school partners around the country?
A: I want to express my gratitude for the amazing work that everyone is doing in schools and communities. You are the light that shapes the next generation of leaders, scholars, and change-makers. Your dedication to helping scholars is admirable and extends well beyond the classroom.
Thank you, Taylor, for your inspiring dedication to your students and community!
Call to Action!
Interested in helping girls define and achieve their unique visions of success? Become a Step Up mentor!
Mentorship opportunities include one-on-one, group, and on-demand support. No previous mentoring experience is needed — just a positive attitude and an open mind! See the steps to get started as a mentor below.
Step Up Mentor Steps:
- Review Mentor Training Videos + 10 Tips for Mentors
- Download our Step Up Mentor Toolkit
- Take our mentor quiz here!
- Lookout for a confirmation email after you’ve registered for sessions on www.suwn.org/events.
- If you have any questions, reach out to mentor@suwn.org!
Is there someone at your school who would like to receive these monthly updates from Step Up?
Contact the Director of Community Engagement, Maya Menon, at maya@suwn.org.
