Press Release: The Collective Identity Mentoring Reaches Los Angeles
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Media Contact:
The Social Block
Nicole Gilley
Nicole@TheCollectiveIdentity.org
THE COLLECTIVE IDENTITY MENTORING REACHES LOS ANGELES
The Collective Identity Mentoring, a groundbreaking nonprofit, reaches Black girls in the Los Angeles Area through mentorship, education, and enriching experiences
LOS ANGELES (April 20, 2021) – The Collective Identity Mentoring, a Los Angeles-based nonprofit, has recently launched its groundbreaking mentoring program and cohorts designed to provide support and enrich the lives of Black girls age 13 - 25. The Collective Identity was created by Nicole Gilley, whose passion for advocating for young Black women in her community. Her passion brought together a team of Black women from different ages, socioeconomic backgrounds and fields in an effort to make positive change in their communities.
The Collective Identity is particularly unique in that it was built virtually, while the COVID-19 pandemic was at its peak in the Los Angeles Area. The Collective Identity’s board came together digitally to build what will become a life-changing experience for the girls enrolled in the program.
“Working in an environment where my Blackness was a problem for those around me, I searched high and low for a mentor to help me navigate this labyrinth of discrimination and workplace retaliation. Unfortunately, I could not find a mentoring agency that offered mentoring services specifically for Black women by Black women. It baffled me that no one thought Black women in the workplace could use a mentor. The Collective Identity Mentoring was born from a place of desperation, hope, and the sheer force of will and determination,” said Nicole Gilley, The Collective Identity Mentoring's founder.
The 13 – 25 age range will be broken into three cohorts, each including ten girls. The programs, Balance, Abound and Thrive will feature one-on-one mentoring for the girls, excursions into the community each month, and career developing experience.
Abound, for girls ages 18 -25, will feature curriculum that will focus on decision-making skills, resume building, and self-exploration. Completion of the course will result in Abound cohorts attending a networking brunch with their polished resume.
Thrive is for girls ages 15 – 17, and will focus on personal value development, and future planning. This program will encourage healthy attitudes towards other women and aims to bolster healthy friendships and relationships while navigating the difficulties of high school.
Balance, designed specifically for girls ages 13 – 15, will utilize curriculum that aims to deconstruct negative and harmful ideologies that Black girls may have been told about themselves. This cohort will lay a foundation of self-exploration and empowerment through friendship and engaging experiences.
For more information about The Collective Identity Mentoring, please reach out to The Social Block (TheSocialBlockLB@gmail.com) or Nicole Gilley (Nicole@TheCollectiveIdentity.org).
About The Collective Identity
The Collective Identity Mentoring is grassroots, Los Angeles-based non-profit founded by Black women for Black women and girls. We have created three unique programs intended to provide Black girls and young women ages 13-25 with a psychosocial safe space by providing monthly confabs and local excursions, as well as a one-on-one mentorship program.
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