Over the years Project MALES has been fortunate to have many student leaders and mentors come through our ranks. In particular, our undergraduate mentors and work-study students work with young males of color at all levels of the educational pipeline in an effort to improve their overall educational attainment. In addition, Project MALES also aims to increase the year-to-year retention and graduation rates among its own members, including encouraging mentors and work-study students to pursue graduate or professional degrees. Recently, we caught up with two alumNI of our Project MALES student mentor program pursuing their academic and professional goals.
Irene Acosta (LMSW)
Irene was active with Project MALES during the 2012-2014 academic years. She is currently pursuing a career goal as a Children’s Counselor, providing psychotherapy to children and adolescents at Roxane’s House in the Hays and Caldwell Child Advocacy Center. Kudos to Irene as she continues her commitment to social change and public service in the Central Texas region. You make us proud! Irene shared this about his experiences with Project MALES.
How did you become involved with Project MALES?
I became involved with Project MALES after having a conversation with a close friend at an organization fair where he was providing information about Project MALES. I saw the need for this organization and wanted to become part of the organization.
What was your role with Project MALES?
During the 2012-2013 academic school year, my first year with Project MALES, I mentored a student from Lanier High School. The year after, I transitioned to being a graduate mentor, which allowed me the opportunity to mentor an undergrad student at UT Austin.
How did your experience with Project MALES support you in your current graduate program or career?
The mentoring I participated in through Project MALES allowed me to expand my cultural competence that has been of great resource as I continue my clinical practice. I had not been exposed to high school populations or high school male student specific research. A major goal a psychotherapist has going into clinical sessions with clients is being able to build a strong therapeutic relationship and Project MALES allowed me to practice such skills. Overall, Project MALES provided new insight to a population I was not familiar with and a variety of skills I continue to use in my career as a social worker.
Is there anything else you would like to share about your experience with Project MALES?
Project MALES provided an opportunity for me to make a difference in the Austin community, but also allowed me to reap amazing benefits from the program. Some benefits such as stipends, socializing with other like-minded individuals, and learning transferable skills.
Andreyez Alvarado
Andreyez is proud to be one of the founding members of our Project MALES’ student mentors program. He became involved with Project MALES in fall 2011 during our pilot year of our mentoring program at Travis High School in the Austin ISD. Andreyez is currently a second year master’s student in the College and University Student Personnel Administration program; in the Program in Higher Education Leadership (PHEL) at the University of Texas Austin. We are so proud of Andreyez for his continuing commitment to his own educational advancement and pursuit of his career goals. Andres shared this about his experiences with Project MALES.
How did you become involved with Project MALES?
I became involved with Project MALES after being a participant in the initial qualitative research. Once the program was created, I enthusiastically signed on to be a part of the development of the mentorship program.
What was your role with Project MALES?
I was one of the first 10 mentors that helped formulate the mentor curriculum implemented in the first semester of mentoring. In the second year of mentoring, we created the Project MALES student organization. In the organization I served as Vice President until December of the fall semester of 2012. As vice president I assisted the president with creating student cohesion through volunteer opportunities, social events, and fundraising opportunities.
How did your experience with Project MALES support you in your current graduate program or career?
Through my time working with Project MALES I found my passion for higher education. I thoroughly enjoyed working with the students within the program, as well as the high school students we mentored at Travis High School. I knew that I was afforded opportunities that made my college education a possibility, which fueled my continued interest in higher education.
Is there anything else you would like to share about your experience with Project MALES?
My collective experience in Project MALES is one that I would not trade for the world. Through the everyday work of the program, I know that students in high school, college, and postgraduate work will have the courage and resources to successfully continue through their education. The ways in which the mentors and mentees impact each other’s lives is indescribable.
Project MALES is proud of Irene, Andreyez, and all its alumni who are now pursuing their academic and professional goals. We look forward to our 2015 graduates and following their academic and professional trajectories. Hook’em Horns!
