At ASAS DC, we are creating a powerful support system for All-Stars by weaving together our mentorship and Youth Advisory Board (YAB) programs.
Mentors – including community members, school personnel, and ASAS team members – provide one-on-one and group mentoring, fostering safe spaces where students can process life events, emotions, and challenges.
YAB members are a select group of high-performing students, who serve as representatives of their school and provide youth voice on local program initiatives. YAB members engage in peer-to-peer mentoring and lead an annual spring service project.
In April 2025, the YAB and Mentorship Program worked together on a garden restoration service project. The programs partnered with Military Lodge No. 29 to revitalize the 9/11 memorial garden at Leckie EC in honor of in honor of Leckie EC teacher Hilda Taylor and student Bernard Brown and the other beloved members of the DC community who lost their lives on 9/11. ASAS students and Military Lodge No. 29 cleaned up the garden and replanted seeds to grow into a beautiful space to honor those who are no longer with us.
Together, under the leadership of our Mentor Coordinator, the YAB and Mentorship Programs provide a network of support for students to process life’s challenges with resilience, build confidence, and develop leadership skills, while also offering opportunities to meaningfully engage and connect with the community through service.
