This month our Mentor Spotlight is one of our very own, from mentee to mentor, meet Rodney Bryant Bien-Aime! Rodney's story is a powerful testament to the ripple effect of mentorship. Once a Take Stock Palm Beach student, Rodney now serves as a mentor, driven by a deep desire to “freely give back what has been freely given.” His own mentor’s unwavering presence left a lifelong imprint — not just fulfilling an obligation, but truly caring for Rodney’s success.

Meeting his mentees for the first time was a surreal, full-circle moment. “I see myself in the boys in many ways,” Rodney shares. His goal is simple yet profound: to ensure every student he encounters feels valued, appreciated, and poured into — especially in a world that often feels like it only takes.

Rodney encourages others to step into mentorship with heart and intention. “The impact a mentor can have is lifelong,” he says. “More youth are seeking guidance than we realize — even if they don’t always know how to ask.”

We’re honored to celebrate Rodney’s journey and the legacy he’s building through compassion, connection, and purpose.

We’re excited to introduce our Alumni Ambassadors at PBSC and FAU! These dedicated graduates are here to share their college experiences, offer guidance, and support our students as they navigate their own academic journeys. Connect with them to learn more about campus life, resources, and what it takes to succeed as a college student. Here are some personal messages from Abilenny Garcia Gonzalez and Brandy Warthen:



“My name is Brandy J. Warthen, and I am honored to serve as one of your new Alumni Ambassadors for the 2025–2026 school year. I am currently pursuing a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration at Palm Beach State College. I enjoy traveling, creating memorable moments with friends and family, exploring fashion, and contributing my time and service to the community. I have been a part of the Take Stock Palm Beach program since 2013, and I continue to encourage and inspire others to join this wonderful organization. It is a privilege to serve as your Alumni Ambassador, and together, let’s continue to inspire the next generation of today’s leaders.”

“My name is Abilenny Gonzalez Garcia and I’m proud to serve as a TSIC Alumni Ambassador at FAU, where I am majoring in Medical Biology. My dream is to become a trauma surgeon in the United States Air Force, combining my passion for medicine with my commitment to service. Take Stock Palm Beach has been an important part of my journey, giving me the guidance and support to pursue opportunities I once only imagined. As an ambassador, I hope to inspire other students to believe in themselves, embrace their roots, and work hard toward their goals, no matter the obstacles.”

We are excited to share the College for Kids initiative, a new program built on the Take Stock in Children framework, which fuels college readiness through hands-on, trade-aligned learning. College for Kids empowers students to discover their talents and interests, explore pathways to higher education and skilled trades, and build essential skills and credentials. It's designed to be practical, inclusive, and outcomes-driven, directly tying classroom experiences to real-world opportunities in high-demand fields.

The initiative directly aligns with Take Stock in Children’s mission to empower youth, foster academic success, and create pathways to educational opportunities by building an ecosystem that reinforces college readiness and trade-focused success through shared responsibility and community pride.

How College for Kids works and aligns with Take Stock Palm Beach

• Taking stock of talents, interests, and trade-readiness
• Students complete industry-aligned inventories and career explorations focused on skilled trades (e.g., construction, automotive, information tech, fabrication).
• Mentors guide portfolio development that highlights hands-on competencies, certifications pursued, and project reflections.
• Alignment with Take Stock Palm Beach: Establishes a clear starting point for each student, mapping interests to trade-focused pathways and college options.

• Seeing opportunities and pathways
• Exposure to trade schools, apprenticeship programs, and college-to-career pipelines; campus tours and online visits emphasize vocational and transfer options.
• Partnerships with local trade unions, community colleges, and industry employers provide firsthand insights and project opportunities.
• Alignment with Take Stock Palm Beach: Expands awareness of viable postsecondary routes, emphasizing affordable, hands-on pathways into skilled professions.

• Increasing skills and credentials
• Project-based learning tied to industry standards; portable credentials, hands-on certificates, and workplace-ready soft skills (time management, teamwork, safety).
• Nurtures mentorship, peer support, and leadership within the program; students share learnings through brief presentations and showcases via our Future Ready Mentoring Series.
• Alignment with Take Stock Palm Beach: Builds tangible competencies that translate to college coursework or entry into apprenticeships, with documented outcomes.

At Take Stock Palm Beach, we’re excited to launch our new Legend of the Month recognition! Each month, we celebrate a team member who goes above and beyond in their role, and this month, the honor goes to JJ, our Financial and Office Administrator.

JJ is the heart of our office—caring, passionate, and endlessly hardworking. She brightens every room she enters and is always ready to lend a hand or a listening ear. Whether it’s tackling a complex issue or keeping everything running smoothly behind the scenes, JJ does it all with efficiency, honesty, and pride in her role. She truly embodies the spirit of Take Stock Palm Beach, and we’re thrilled to recognize her as our very first Legend of the Month!

JJ gets to keep the office flamingo for the month and will have the honor of choosing the next Legend of the Month for November. Congratulations, JJ—you’ve earned it!