#  About Youth Mentoring  

 



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##  Harvard College Student Mentors 

Youth mentoring supports Harvard’s commitment to education through programs designed to support out-of-class learning. Each semester, approx. 25 Harvard College undergraduates work closely with Youth Programming Ed Portal staff to create and deliver one-on-one and small group academic enrichment for Allston -Brighton 1st through 8th graders.

 

 [ Harvard Students: Apply to become a mentor  arrow\_circle\_right ](https://edportal.harvard.edu/teach-and-mentor) [ Families & Students: Applications for Fall Mentoring Open in August arrow\_circle\_right ](https://edportal.harvard.edu/youth-programming) 

 



     ![harvard college student with mentee at project showcase event](/sites/g/files/omnuum12051/files/styles/hwp_3_4__480x640/public/2025-07/042525_Youth_Mentoring_0297-vertical.jpg?itok=SW4ZZ-Ep) 

 



 

  

 

     ![mentors with student project](/sites/g/files/omnuum12051/files/styles/hwp_1_1__480x480/public/2025-07/042525_Youth_Mentoring_0546.jpg?itok=5i2ldzXF) 

 



 

  

 

     ![college mentors with student](/sites/g/files/omnuum12051/files/styles/hwp_1_1__480x480/public/2025-07/042525_Youth_Mentoring_0702.jpg?itok=Z_BisGNh) 

 



 

  

 

 

 

 

##  About Mentoring 

   ![mentor-works with student on mini golf project](/sites/g/files/omnuum12051/files/styles/hwp_1_1__360x360_scale/public/2025-07/042525_Youth_Mentoring_0157.jpg?itok=OIOL8fPd) 

 

Since opening its doors in 2008, the Ed Portal has worked to bring Harvard teaching & learning resources to the entire Allston-Brighton community—providing things like arts & cultural programs, wellness initiatives, and career workshops. A key flagship program has been the youth mentoring program, which pairs Harvard Undergraduate students as mentors with Allston-Brighton youth.

Mentors receive training each semester focused on various aspects of pedagogy and educational delivery, including topics such as growth mindset, active and inclusive teaching, the learning cycle, group management, and work with Ed Portal staff to develop age-appropriate curriculum in the arts, digital literacy, health and wellness, workforce development, and college and career preparedness.



 

##  How to Register your child for mentoring 

   ![Mentoring showcase Spring 2023](/sites/g/files/omnuum12051/files/styles/hwp_1_1__360x360_scale/public/hep/files/120222_mentor_044.jpg?itok=V0gYLJWE) 

 

Mentoring takes place on a semester basis. To be eligible, students must be residents of Allston-Brighton, or students in an Allston-Brighton public school. Generally, students meet weekly with their mentor for the duration of the program. [Learn more about current opportunities here](https://edportal.harvard.edu/youth-programming).



 

##  Staff 

 



  [### Leah Dodell 

 ](/people/leah-dodell) [leah\_dodell@harvard.edu](mailto:leah_dodell@harvard.edu)Socially Engaged Learning

 

 

 

      ![dodell-headshot](/sites/g/files/omnuum12051/files/styles/hwp_4_5__690x865/public/2025-03/LDodell%20Headshot.png?itok=XvtDeeZC) 

 

 

 

   [### Mariah Smith-Sharpe

 ](/people/mariah-smith-sharpe) <edportal@harvard.edu>Youth Programming

Mentoring

Operations

 

 

 

      ![Mariah Smith-Sharpe](/sites/g/files/omnuum12051/files/styles/hwp_4_5__690x865/public/hep/files/mariah_smith-sharpe_headshot.jpg?itok=wPwI0Kdx)