Gretchen's Fundraiser - Journey Forward Mentoring

Join us in Inspiring Possibilities for Students of Dallas!

Please join me in supporting Journey Forward Mentoring, an organization based in Dallas that encourages and supports local high school and postsecondary students. Our focus is on offering guidance, educational resources, career advice, and life skills essential to creating brighter futures.

The Urgent Need

In Dallas, students from low-income households face a very large gap in access to adequate access to college and career readiness support. On average, public high school students receive only 38 minutes of college and career advising over their entire four years. This lack of support results in less than 20% of Dallas ISD students being able to graduate college and be career-ready. Less than a third of Dallas students will ultimately obtain a college degree or technical certificate.

Our Solution

Journey Forward Mentoring increases access to higher education and well-paying career paths through our high school and postsecondary mentoring programs. We work with students of color from low-income households in Dallas who are historically underrepresented in higher education and lack adequate college and career readiness support. 

We provide one-on-one support that brings each student into focus. We first engage with our students in high school through our Next Gen Mentoring program. Each student is matched with an adult volunteer mentor. Mentors help our students navigate high school, explore higher education and different career paths, and improve their understanding of what information, resources, and opportunities exist to support their success. When our students graduate, they are invited to join Edge, our postsecondary bridge program that walks alongside our students until they obtain their postsecondary degree or credential. Students receive group coaching and one-on-one college advising, participate in social gatherings, and receive a semester stipend to assist with living expenses.  

We believe that students should lead the decision-making process for their future, and our role is to provide them with the right information, resources, and guidance so they can make informed decisions. We meet our students where they are and develop long-term, meaningful relationships with them that extend beyond high school and their postsecondary education and help them thrive, lead fulfilling lives, and become mentors themselves to a new generation of students.

Our Financial Need

To meet the needs of our students and grow Journey Forward Mentoring so we can impact even more lives, we need your support. Funding will enable us to work with more students at each of our high schools, as well as develop Edge for our high school graduates as they pursue higher education so that our students can truly excel academically, professionally, and ultimately in their communities.

My Personal Journey

I've had many mentors in my life, from the 3rd-grade music teacher who helped me navigate a new school after my parents' divorce to the crusty old engineer who took me under his wing on the first day of my first job.  Luckily, I was raised by a teacher who knew how to help me navigate the college preparation and application process. She was and always will be my most treasured mentor. 

I am honored to serve on the Journey Forward Mentoring board during this time of tremendous growth. I have a $2500 fundraising goal for this North Texas Giving Day. If you are able to and interested in supporting this organization and our work, you can make a donation on this page. A donation of any size is appreciated and incredibly impactful to our programs and students. If giving is not in the cards this time around, no worries at all. I deeply appreciate your consideration and time!

Join Our Cause

Please join us in making a real difference. Your support will help us fulfill our vital mission, one student at a time.