Nine Rhodes students, under the leadership of Dorothy Cox, community liaison for Rhodes’ Office of External Programs, will facilitate a new mentoring program for girls (ages 9-17) in the North Memphis and surrounding communities. NBAJG (No Boys Allowed - Just Girls) is designed to empower and educate participants on various issues such as healthy/unhealthy relationships, hygiene and health, sibling rivalries, nutrition and exercise, and academics.
In addition to planning field trips for the participants, students will teach everything from science experiments to gardening to confidence building. NBAJG will meet every Saturday (Oct. 5, 2013 through April 19, 2014) from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. at the Learning Center @ Shasta Central (2375 Shasta Ave).
“I am excited about the program,” says Flora Barnes, grandmother of two of the participants. “The girls are thrilled.”
Rhodes student mentors are:
Kenneishia Wooten ’15, psychology major from Memphis, TN
Rozalia Schleinig ’14, international studies major from Sharon, MA
Taylor Jackson ’15, history major from Conway, AR
Ebony Archie ’15, history major from Jackson, MS
Hannah Chen ’14, business major from Memphis, TN
Premiese Cunningham ’15, music major from Birmingham, AL
Chloe Bootstaylor ’14, economics, international studies major from Atlanta, GA
Destiny Smith ’14, psychology major from Little Rock, AR
Sierra Thompson ’15, biology major from Smyrna, GA
“I believe having mentors from different backgrounds, ethnicities, and social classes are an integral asset in developing one’s identity,” says Ebony Archie. “I hope that through NBAJG, the girls we mentor will learn and develop from our experiences and activities as we learn and develop from them also.”
Adds Premiese Cunningham, “I am really excited to connect with the girls. I think this experience will not only be beneficial for the mentees, but I feel the mentors can definitely learn and grow from this experience as well.”
For more information, contact Dorothy Cox at coxd@rhodes.edu or (901) 233-0563.