Mentor Archives - Winning Futures - Mentoring Programs - Empowering youth to succeed through mentoring and strategic planning

A career mentor’s Journey: From being nervous at the first session to beaming with pride at the last session, we will follow a group of volunteers throughout the year starting with this first of four blog series.

January 9, 2024 by Chris Cahill, MA

Male mentor with male student in classroom

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Career mentors are the most integral part of our work when connecting with high school and college students in our Workforce Prep and College Success Mentoring program. For new career mentors, the process of getting started can feel like they are embarking on the unknown. Some also feel nervous about … Read More »

$44,000 in scholarships awarded to 18 students, seven career mentors honored for their dedication, and all of our annual sponsors recognized for their generous support

July 11, 2023July 7, 2023 by Chris Cahill, MA

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We held our 29th Annual Awards Celebration on June 6, 2023, at Club Venetian in Madison Heights, and awarded $44,000 in scholarships to 18 students from our Workforce Prep program. We also honored seven career mentors for their five or ten year volunteer anniversary and recognized all of our sponsors … Read More »

Ruomu Hu, Vice President and General Manager at Harman International, Joins Board of Directors

April 10, 2023 by Chris Cahill, MA

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We are very pleased to announce that Ruomu Hu has been elected to our Board of Directors. “Everyone deserves a fair chance at the American dream,” said Ruomu. “Seeing the fundamental impacts Winning Futures has made for these beautiful young minds and their bright futures has made me a firm … Read More »

Welcome Our New Board Member, Reggie Roland, Principal Director of Partnerships at Interior Environments

March 2, 2023January 6, 2023 by Destiny Copeland

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Reggie Roland, principal director of partnerships at Interior Environments, is the newest member of our Board of Directors. “I’m honored and thankful to share that I have aligned with Winning Futures as a board member. I have always had a passion for supporting my community. This board position allows me … Read More »

Black Male Career Mentors: You are the Key to Inspiring the Next Generation

August 9, 2022August 8, 2022 by Destiny Copeland

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I had the privilege of meeting with one of our most dynamic career mentor-student pairings, Aubin Williams and Aidan Watkins. Williams is the president and CEO of Ekklesia Building Corporation, a general contracting, program management, and construction company. Watkins is a 19-year-old full-time student at Wayne County Community College studying … Read More »

Paying It Forward as a Career Mentor

July 29, 2022July 11, 2022 by Destiny Copeland

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Pay it forward is an expression for when the recipient of kindness does something kind in turn for someone else rather than simply accepting or repaying the original good deed. Tamara Taylor, complexity lead at Stellantis, has been the recipient of many acts of kindness and encouragement throughout her … Read More »

$50,000 Awarded and 17 Mentors Honored, Our 2022 Awards Celebration in Review

November 5, 2022July 11, 2022 by Destiny Copeland

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Our 28th Annual Awards Celebration was held on May 17, 2022, at The Gazebo Banquet Center in Warren. We awarded a grand total of $50,000 to 24 phenomenal students from our Workforce Prep program. We also honored 17 dedicated local business professionals who completed their fifth year as career mentors! … Read More »

The Journey of a Student Becoming a Mentor.

May 31, 2022May 16, 2022 by Michele Wacht

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When an individual decides to mentor someone it’s a gift. A gift of shared knowledge, experience and most precious of them all – their time. In the story of Tom Zara, his experience with our program is something he carries with him and it has inspired him to come full … Read More »

Why Career Mentors Matter

April 4, 2022 by Michele Wacht

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Our Workforce Prep Program is designed to support teenagers and for good reason. Adolescence is a time when youth search for a sense of identity, and the belief that they can accomplish their chosen dreams. That self-belief touches every aspect of a young person’s life and can determine whether they … Read More »

The Surprising Benefits of Being a Volunteer

February 15, 2022February 14, 2022 by Michele Wacht

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Nonprofit organizations, like Winning Futures, depend on the giving nature of volunteers. By donating your time, knowledge, and experiences you can help others feel empowered, facilitate change and help reduce costs. All this because of who you are and what you can offer. Of course, at its core, volunteering is … Read More »