Dear Students and Families,

Welcome (or welcome back) to More Than Bootstraps!

We are excited for the year ahead.

We Begin September 8

MTB High Schools Fellows have all been assigned a College Student Leader (mentor). Students will begin meeting and working together beginning the week of September 8.

2024-2025 College Student Leaders

New College Students Leaders for the 2024-25 Academic Year

Meet our College Student Leaders! All are graduates of the Passaic Public Schools and all will be supporting our MTB High School Fellows in the year ahead.

Returning College Student Leaders

Program Resource Fellows

Meet our Program Resource Fellows: Lisbeth (Kamila) Gell (Kean University) and Melissa Reyes (Dartmouth College). Lisbeth and Melissa have served as MTB College Student Leaders for three years. This summer, they led the MTB Summer Training Program for College Student Leaders. In addition, they spearheaded the MTB Summer Program for rising senior High School Fellows. As rising college seniors, they will help lead MTB over the upcoming academic year.

Ask a Question

Question: Stipends?

Question: How do the stipends work?

Answer: Communication and completion of MTB tasks are key.

MTB is built around the idea of giving financial support to our students. High School Fellows receive $75 a month, and College Student Leaders receive $400 a month. The funds are intended to free our students from some of their other financial responsibilities and to give them space and time to come together as a community of success in MTB.

Students need to participate in weekly meetings in their small mentoring groups, complete their monthly MTB tasks, and attend our monthly Full Group Meeting. Life sometimes gets complicated, and all our MTB students learn how to communicate effectively about conflicts.

Each month, students complete a stipend survey where they reflect on their work in MTB. The goal is to help our students think critically about their work in a safe and supportive environment.

Checks get sent out at the end of each month. Occasionally, they don't arrive, and students are encouraged to reach out to Audrey if their check seems to have been lost in the mail.

Summer FAFSA Completion Work

MTB’s College Student Leaders and High School Fellows engaged in amazing work on the MTB FAFSA Summer Completion Campaign. Students completed training and organized and held numerous FAFSA information and completion events, including at Passaic's graduation rehearsal and with partner Passaic County Community College. We are very proud of their work spreading the word that the FAFSA is a safe way to access free money for college.

Coming Soon - Mark Your Planner!

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