Expanding Our Community and Multiplying Our Impact
At our core, Minds Matter Bay Area (MMBay) is about building community and relationships, with a clear focus on results. The cornerstone of our program is the relationship between mentors and mentees.
MMBay simply could not operate without the generosity of our volunteers, who show up every Saturday for three years, and the donors who provide financial support so that we can purchase learning resources, study materials, test fees, and tuition for summer programs.
We are making an impact
These donors and volunteers show up because they are part of a community – and because they see the direct impact of the work we are doing. 100% of the students who have graduated from our program have been accepted into 4-year colleges, and MMBay graduates are 23 times as likely to attend a selective college as their peers from similar backgrounds.
A culture of trust and empowerment
This community did not happen by accident – we have intentionally built a culture of trust and empowerment with a clear focus on achieving results. “MMBay has created a culture of empowering people to use their strengths. We trust our volunteers to come in and be their best selves and do amazing work,” says Sara Mirza, who volunteered with MMBay for seven years, served as Chief Program Officer, and earned our Commendation of the CEO volunteer award.
The skills these volunteers are using – leadership, management, and salesmanship – help them build a substantive track record of impact, which is especially valuable for those who are just beginning their careers. The mentees win, and so do the mentors.
A drive and growth mindset
An empowered community with a clear goal is practically unstoppable – and fulfilling to participate in: “We are not a static organization,” says Alex Vander Linde, a board member of MMBay. “The drive and growth mindset is what draws board members and volunteers to Minds Matter.” This mindset is also what helped MMBay continue to thrive and support our students when the pandemic hit. We had to pivot from weekly in-person mentor/mentee meetings – quickly. “It took MMBay ten days to transition to online learning at the beginning of the pandemic,” recalls Mirza. “We had strong leadership, and we had no choice. Volunteers came together to make it happen."
Multiplying our impact – with heart
Our program is making an enormous impact in our San Francisco community, and growing this community will expand our impact even more. As Vander Linde puts it, "We know how to drive outcomes, and we want to share that as widely as possible.” Mirza concurs: “We have figured out the right balance between customized, heart-centered care for our mentees and a program that can scale.”
Help support our expansion
Extending the reach of our program to help more students get into and graduate from college means exponentially multiplying our costs. Your donation will have a direct impact on a student’s long-term success and the financial well-being of their entire family, helping to break the cycle of intergenerational poverty. With our track record of results, our community of caring, empowered volunteers, and your support, MMBay will be well positioned to help even more students around the Bay Area.
What you can do
Donate and support our expansion today: www.mindsmatterbay.org/donate-today
Are you interested in becoming a mentor for Minds Matter Bay Area? We are currently seeking mentors in San Francisco, Oakland, and San Jose who want to make a real difference in a student’s life. Fill out a volunteer application today.
Would you like to start a new Minds Matter Bay Area site in Oakland? Email us at contact@mindsmatterbay.org to learn more.