Latinas On the Verge of Excellence - LOVE, Inc

Note: The organization did not respond to this question.

Note: The organization did not respond to this question.

L.O.V.E.'s leadership including Board of Directors, staff, and volunteers represent the young women we support in our programs. Our team is composed of women from diverse backgrounds that come from different countries such as Mexico, Colombia, Puerto Rico, Greece, and the Dominican Republic. L.O.V.E.’s mission is to support young Latinas. However, the organization welcomes all students to our mentoring programs. The L.O.V.E. programs encourage and foster an environment that celebrates the rich and diverse cultures of our participants. L.O.V.E. creates a safe space for all members to engage in open, honest, and respectful conversations about any issue such as gender, race, equity, social justice, and more.

L.O.V.E. partners with like-minded organizations, colleges and universities, schools’ networks, and institutions to secure the resources needed to successfully implement the L.O.V.E. Mentoring Program. Collaboration with schools’ networks such as the Student Leadership Network and the NYC Department of Education gives us access to public schools to teach the L.O.V.E. program. Our strong partnerships with colleges and universities like the City University of New York (CUNY), New York University (NYU), among others, allow us to recruit volunteers to serve as mentors in our programs. Furthermore, we partner with organizations like the Mount Sinai Adolescent Health Center, Elmhurst Hospital, and Planned Parenthood to provide mental and reproductive health resources and education to our students. Lastly, we work with college and corporate partners to provide college access and career development for our students through college tours, career panels, and corporate site visits.

The pandemic helped to bring awareness to the preexisting challenges that young women face in NYC, including mental health. As a result, L.O.V.E.’s work has gained more visibility within the non-profit and educational sector. During the past three years, we have tripled our team size and doubled the number of programs, resulting in an increased number of students served. We receive constant requests from school leaders across NYC wanting to implement L.O.V.E. with the goal to provide the social and emotional support, health education, and mentorship that our program offers.