July has been a busy month, with our students hitting the ground running for the 2022-23 academic year!

Our rising senior High School Fellows met and read Make Your Home Among Strangers, a novel that explores the challenges and opportunities that Lizet, the first-generation, low-income, Latina protagonist, faces at an elite, private, predominately white institution (PWI). The discussion was ably led by Ashley, former High School Fellow and new MTB Leader!

High School Fellows are also working with individual coaches on their college essays, developing their college lists, and preparing for FAFSA and verification.

Welcome Our New Leaders and Fellows!

Our third year of Leader Training is going fantastically. We've met online and in person with workshops on imposter syndrome, communication, EOF, and more. This year, we are welcoming 9 new Leaders who will join our 3 returning Leaders. This is our biggest cohort of MTB Leaders so far!

Above, MTB College Student Leaders met (in person at Passaic's Dignity House and online) to talk about the nuts and bolts of near-peer mentoring in MTB and the issue of undermatching - when high-achieving students attend less-selective colleges.

Thanks to our partner Revivn, each of our College Student Leaders and High School Fellows receives a computer, and we've begun distributing the machines.

Computers are just one of many expenses that make up the full cost of attendance in higher education. We are so thankful to Revivn for helping our students thrive!

We have a winner! Congratulations to Mariah Smith for her winning entry in the More Than Bootstraps Graduation Cap Contest! Mariah's creative cap design celebrates her dream of becoming an ICU nurse and patient advocate.

The winners in our contest and each student in MTB will receive a spiral-bound planner featuring amazingly decorated graduation caps and words of inspiration. All of our students need a dose of inspiration to go with their attempts to plan and organize their busy lives.

Thanks to all who supported our contest by spreading the word, submitting caps, or voting on entries!

In Case You Missed It...

At MTB, we are grateful to our social work interns from Rutgers University for providing mental health support to our students. Remember to reach out if you need support.

July Is BIPOC Mental Health Awareness Month, also known as Bebe Moore Campbell National Minority Mental Health Awareness Month!

Campbell was an American journalist and mental health advocate who worked to support the mental health needs of underrepresented communities.

In 2008, Bebe Moore Campbell National Minority Mental Health Awareness Month was created to bring awareness to the unique struggles that underrepresented groups face in regard to mental illness in the US.

MTB joins with others to go #BeyondTheNumbers and address the unique mental health challenges in BIPOC communities.

“Anything that's human is mentionable, and anything that is mentionable can be more manageable. When we can talk about our feelings, the become less overwhelming, less upsetting, and less scary.”

- Fred Rogers

July's Featured Videos

We asked last year's graduated High School Fellows what advice they would give the rising juniors just starting with the program.

Here's what Ashley and Jennifer had to say.

Coming Up Soon

Don't Forget! - on Sunday, July 31, we are welcoming all new and returning High School Fellows to join us at the Passaic Boathouse Cafe from 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. Our Leaders can't wait to welcome our newest and largest cohort of MTB High School Fellows.

On Wednesday, August 24, the rising seniors are encouraged to attend a Common App Bootcamp run by MTB Board Member Ricardo.

Follow MTB on Social Media!