Great seeing you at our monthly meeting, excited for more connections this year!
Thank you to everyone who joined us for our January monthly meeting! It was wonderful to start the year together, and we’re excited for the amazing semester ahead.
Happy New Year from all of us at CHEC! 🎉 We can’t wait to continue building connections and creating impactful moments with all of you.
Mark your calendars for our next meeting on Monday, February 10th, from 5:30 PM to 7:00 PM, in the CHEC Cafeteria (3101 16th St NW). We hope to see you there!
Welcome to MentorPRO!
Log in today and connect with your Mentor!
- Download the app (Apple, Google Play) or use the web version.
- Log into your account using your phone number. Complete your profile and add up to 5 goals.
- Use the check-in functionality regularly to track your progress.
- Reach out to your mentor.
- Learn more about MentorPRO here.
As a Mentee, some of your responsibilities are:
- Download MentorPRO, complete your profile, and familiarize yourself with the app.
- Add 5 SMART goals and ask your Mentors for guidance to complete them.
- Reach out to your Mentor through MentorPRO, introduce yourself, and respond to their messages within 24 hours.
- At least once a week, use MentorPRO’s Check-In feature to reflect on your personal and academic well-being.
- Complete any Tasks and Sub-Tasks assigned by your Mentor. This will help you reach your goals faster!
General questions? Reach out to Support@mentorpro.com
Can’t login? Reach out to Ms. Lara at laranegronocasio@gmail.com
Click above to watch the MENTOR INTRO VIDEO.
Click above to watch the MENTEE INTRO VIDEO.
Spotlight: Kennedi, Quannika, Ildamar, and Iris!
Juniors Quannika Graves and Kennedi Estep (top picture) and seniors Ildamar de la Cruz Vaquero and Iris Cruz (bottom picture) were awarded a full scholarship to attend the 2025 Young Enterprising Women National Leadership Forum in Nashville, Tennessee, in March. Quannika says, “I am truly honored and thankful to have received this scholarship. It’s an incredible opportunity to connect, learn, and grow alongside inspiring women shaping the future. This support not only enables me to participate but also empowers me to contribute meaningfully to the ongoing conversation and advancement of women’s voices everywhere.”
Spring 2025 Calendar of Events
UMD Basketball Game – (pending) Sunday, February 2nd at 1pm
(RSVP) Catholic University College Trip – Friday, February 7th at 11:45am
(RSVP) February Monthly Meeting – Monday, February 10th from 5:30pm-7pm
US Capitol Visit – Saturday, February 15th at 12:30pm
UMD Basketball Game – Monday, February 17th at 6pm
Washington Wizards vs Brooklyn Nets Game – (pending) Monday, February 24th from 7pm-9pm
Washington Wizards vs Utah Jazz – (pending) Wednesday, March 5th at 7pm
George Mason College Trip – TBD March
March Monthly Meeting – Monday, March 17th from 5:30pm-7pm
Trinity University College Trip – TBD April
April Monthly Meeting – Monday, April 21st from 5:30pm-7pm
May Monthly Meeting – Monday, May 19th from 5:30pm-7pm
June Monthly Meeting – Monday, June 16th from 5:30pm-7pm
January + December Mtg Slides
Click above to view December’s slide deck. Click HERE to check out the resources we discussed about resumes, scholarships, and writing.
Jan. Activities, Dr. MLK Weekend
- Today, one of the most quoted speeches from King is the ”I Have a Dream” speech, which he gave during the March on Washington in August 1963. Looking over the speech, which lines stand out to you the most? Why?
- Sadly, King was assassinated in April 1968, when he was only 39 years old. If this had not happened, what do you think he would have done with the rest of his life? How would he have changed the world?
From The Martin Luther King Jr. Center for Nonviolent Social Change Inc.
Click above to view December’s slide deck. Click HERE to check out the resources we discussed about resumes, scholarships, and writing.
Visit the Dr. MLK Jr Memorial Site
Know Your Rights & Supporting Students
From CHEC: “Schools with immigrant, undocumented, refugee students and/or families may see an increase in discussion and questions surrounding deportation and family separation in the coming months. These fears and anxieties may increase with expected changes in policies with the new administration. Here are some tips on how to respond to these concerns if they come up.
Emotional Validation: “I’m here for you” – Reminding students that you are here for them, as a trusted adult, is vital to increase their sense of safety
when everything else may feel unpredictable. You can validate students’ emotions related to the uncertainty they feel. Try using three-because statements to validate their emotions. “I can imagine why you would feel anxious- (1) because not knowing is difficult, (2) because you are worried for your loved ones, and (3) because it’s hard to sit with uncertainty. I’m here for you and there are trusted adults here who care for you at school.” If you aren’t sure what three because statements to include when you validate, try using the 3 “Hs”: “because it’s hard, because it’s heavy, and because it hurts.” Emotional validation allows a student to feel heard and seen during an uncertain time.”
Mentors, to learn how CHEC has stood as a pillar of social justice and inclusion for immigrant students, check out the resources below:
- “Multicultural School Struggles to Survive Program’s Accent is on English,” Marc Fisher (The Washington Post, 1987)
- “A School That Works – No Thanks to the City,” Colbert I. King (The Washington Post, 1996)
- “The Visionary Maria Tukeva created a program for immigrant children who’d been failed by D.C. schools and turned it into a successful high school,” V Dion Haynes (The Washington Post, 2010)
Visit United We Dream to learn more resources about immigration.
FAFSA, Scholarships, & Senior Support for Spring
