The Project MALES Student Mentoring Program is off to a great start in the 2018-19 academic year. AY 2018-19 marks the eighth year that Project MALES is partnering with the Austin Independent School District (AISD). We currently serve the following AISD middle schools: Webb Early College Prep, Martin Middle School, Mendez Middle School, Burnet Middle School, and Gus Garcia Young Men’s Leadership Academy. In addition, we serve at the following AISD high schools: Travis Early College High School (ECHS), Lanier High School, Reagan ECHS, Eastside Memorial ECHS, and Lyndon B. Johnson ECHS in Austin ISD.
This year we have expanded our mentoring services to three middle schools in the Del Valle Independent School District: Ojeda Middle School, Dailey Middle School, and Del Valle Middle School. Our curriculum focuses on the themes of Brotherhood, Leadership, College and Career Readiness, Health and Wellness, and Identity. All of our program activities center on these five pillars to anchor our mentoring initiatives with boys and men of color.
Our Mentoring Site Coordinators – Alicia Moreno, Danielle Marie Zaragoza, Edgar Fidel Lopez, Allanah Manzanares, and Victor Martin – are each assigned three sites to lead along with a team of UT undergraduate student mentors whom conduct our weekly mentoring sessions. Our UT undergraduate student mentors are trained in a two credit service-learning course concurrent with placement in a school site. In the next few weeks, we will spotlight our schools and the PM team who lead our group and one-on-one mentoring activities at each site. This week we are spotlighting Danielle and Victor!
Mentoring Site Coordinator: Danielle Zaragoza
School Sites: Burnet Middle School, Dailey Middle School, and Reagan High School
Mentors at Reagan H.S.: Abby Sanchez, Antonio Banda, Derrick Martinez, Gedeon Kossia, Guadalupe Lopez Rojas, Ilse Colchado, Isaac Mendoza Ibarra, Jeremy Flores, Juan Regalado, Rebecca Martinez
Mentors at Burnet M.S.: Alec Rodriguez, Angelo Bustos, Diane Campos, Guadalupe Lopez Rojas, Hugo Chavarria, Jeremy Flores, Juan Regalado, Logan McCord, Mariano Gutierrez, Mark Manzo, Oscar Zamora
Mentors at Dailey M.S.: Carlos Diaz, Heron Cavazos, Hugo Chavarria, Isaiah Zaragoza, Jorge Estrada, Mayling Alvarez, Paul Castrejon, Robert Rodriguez, Rodrigo Vivar, Vincent Ascencio
Quote from Danielle: “I look forward to those little moments with our mentees where they open up about something happening in their personal lives. That’s what I love most about this work. I love seeing the progress of a student that is initially shy and closed off, to him showing up excited to see us and telling us about their lives.”
Quote from mentee: “Miss, you’re like our mentoring mom.”
Mentoring Site Coordinator: Victor Hugo Martin
Sites: Martin Middle School, Lanier High School, and Travis High School
Mentors at Travis H.S.: Alec Mireles Montoya, Arturo Galindo, Derrick Martinez, Lorenzo Pesina, Maritza Ramirez, Oliverio Castanon, Robert Rodriguez
Mentors at Martin M.S.: Brian Martinez, Christopher Herrera, Lorenzo Pesina, Rebecca Gaona
Mentors at Lanier H.S.: Christopher Egbuchunam, Guadalupe Lopez Rojas, Dior Cyitatire, Abby Sanchez, Mayling Alvarez, Gedeon Kossia, Rebecca Gaona, Rebecca Martinez, Victoria Garcia
Quote from Victor: “The students that we work with inspire me. Most of these students come from tough backgrounds and they are still resilient. They are special and I look forward to meeting with them every week. I am happy to see their growth throughout the weeks.”
Quote from Mentee: “Project MALES is what I look forward to all week.”
