About US
OUR MISSION
The Latinas On the Verge of Excellence - L.O.V.E. Mentoring Program empowers young women to recognize their innate strengths and achieve personal and professional goals through mentorship and health education. Our focus includes mental, reproductive, and physical health, as well as college and career readiness.
OUR VISION
The Latinas On the Verge of Excellence - L.O.V.E Mentoring Program believes that women can do absolutely anything they set their minds to.
WHY NYC NEEDS L.O.V.E.
L.O.V.E.’s high-impact curriculum was developed based on twelve years of experience:
WHAT DOES L.O.V.E. DO?
MENTOR MODEL
What makes the L.O.V.E. Mentoring Program unique is our deep commitment to a culturally and linguistically responsive approach. We celebrate identity, shared experience, and authentic connection. Our mentors are college age women who have walked similar paths as the mentees we serve. They understand their challenges, dreams, and potential because they have lived them. Through this shared understanding, our mentees see themselves reflected in their mentors, a proof that their goals are within reach. Together, they build confidence, resilience, and a sense of belonging that empowers them to thrive. Our role-model-based mentorship, paired with education in vital areas such as mental health, reproductive health, and college and career readiness, equips young Latinas and other young women from diverse backgrounds with the tools to succeed, in school and in life.
HEALTH-BASED CURRICULUM
Throughout the academic year, mentees and mentors come together each week for meaningful, hour-long sessions guided by L.O.V.E.’s health-based curriculum. Rooted in four core areas: mental health, reproductive health, college access, and career readiness, each session nurtures both personal growth and academic achievement. Through guided mentoring and interactive group activities, our mentees gain confidence, strengthen their skills, and learn to pursue their goals with purpose. The L.O.V.E. Mentoring Program provides a consistent, caring space where encouragement, understanding, and empowerment help every participant thrive.
PARTNERSHIPS
L.O.V.E. proudly builds and nurtures strong partnerships with NYC schools, community organizations, universities, foundations, and employee resource groups that share our mission to uplift young women and Hispanic communities. These collaborations allow us to expand our reach, bringing the L.O.V.E. Mentoring Program to more schools across New York City and beyond. Through these meaningful partnerships, we not only strengthen our programs but also stay closely connected to the personal and academic journeys of our students— ensuring that every young woman we serve continues to grow, achieve, and thrive.
Our IMPACT
Since its launch, L.O.V.E. has successfully supported young Latinas and young women in general to thrive and overcome challenges related to mental and reproductive health as well as low academic performance.
Over the past twelve years, 82.10% of our students have attended the program on a weekly basis. More than 50% of the students we have served have been part of the program for two years or more.
According to our most recent alumni survey:
Students state that attending the L.O.V.E. program during their high school years helped them increase self-confidence
Students who actively participate in the L.O.V.E. program develop an understanding of sexual health education
Native Spanish-speaking students report language skills acquisition based on their participation in the L.O.V.E. program
Students who complete the L.O.V.E. program graduate from high school and pursue higher education
Our growth
Throughout the past thirteen years, L.O.V.E. has served over 3,000 students with activity in 40 separate public schools across NYC.
L.O.V.E.’s goals are to:
- Continue to empower and encourage young Latinas and other female students to use their voices to make a difference within their schools, community, and personal lives
- Become a required health class in NYC middle and public high schools
- Triple the number of mentees we serve each academic year for the next two years
- Expand the L.O.V.E. program within communities that have a high percentage of Latino population including:
- Washington Heights
- South Bronx
- Bushwick
- Williamsburg
- Elmhurst
- Jackson Heights
- Corona
