MIRR Mentors’ mission is to lift up Black students in D.C. public schools by helping them overcome the barriers that limit their academic, personal, and professional potential. Through mentorship, identity-affirming support, and hands-on exposure to advanced coursework, STEM, and career opportunities, we empower students to believe in themselves, pursue their educational goals, and create the future they deserve.

1. Mentorship
   Many of our Howard mentors come from low-income communities and have navigated challenges like underfunded schools, family instability, or being first-generation college students, and are now pursuing higher education with purpose. Their journeys make them powerful role models who understand what our students are facing because they’ve lived it themselves. Through bi-weekly after-school sessions, mentors offer more than just encouragement. They lead structured workshops focused on academic success, goal-setting, and college preparation. They provide tutoring and study strategies. They also facilitate open conversations around mental health and wellness, and help students explore career paths through resume-building, mock interviews, and panels with Black professionals. 

2. Identity
   Our programming affirms students’ cultural and personal identities through guided storytelling, self-reflection exercises, and discussions on topics like colorism, imposter syndrome, and representation. We understand that many students struggle with confidence tied to their identity, whether due to discrimination, colorism, “texturism”, or socio-economic challenges. Our program helps students build self-worth and show up confidently in academic spaces, fully embracing their potential.

3. Resilience
   Our goal is not to hold students’ hands forever, but to provide them with the support to stand on their own. Through emotional check-ins, coping skills workshops, and consistent mentor feedback, students build the capacity to manage academic stress, emotional challenges, and life transitions independently. We prioritize long-term self-sufficiency so students can face adversity with confidence, both in and beyond the classroom.

4. Representation
   We connect students with Black professionals in fields like STEM, law, business, and the arts. These panels and career-building workshops expand students’ perspectives and help them see themselves in positions of power, influence, and success. Exposure to real-world role models reinforces what’s possible and inspires these students to pursue ambitious goals.