Maria Rocha is a sophomore at Medford High School and an amazing CCSR student leader, who has been awarded a HERlead Fellowship for her project to help first generation, low-income (FGLI) high school students in professional development and the road to college by connecting them to college readiness resources and a Mentor Team composed of Tufts students of similar backgrounds. Students asked the Mentor Team questions through online communication and received compilations of resources in the form of lists, graphics, videos, and webinars. They were also given the opportunity to participate in resume building workshops and tours of the Tufts campus. She will be representing the Medford community and the state of Massachusetts. “She will be representing the Medford community and the state of Massachusetts.”

Maria is listed on The HERLead website. She is one of 30 HERLead Fellows in the U.S. and Canada: https://herlead.vitalvoices.org/fellows/2020-fellows/

The HERLead Fellowship

Since 2011, over 250 high school girls from across the U.S. have been trained, mentored, and inspired to become the next generation of female leaders and 165 social impact projects have been funded through the HERlead Fellowship – formerly known as the ANNpower Vital Voices Initiative – a fellowship for young women on their way. A groundbreaking partnership between ANN, parent company of Ann Taylor, LOFT, and Lou & Grey, and Vital Voices, the preeminent non-governmental organization (NGO) whose mission is to invest in women leaders who improve the world, the HERlead Fellowship is designed to empower young women and equip them with the leadership skills they need to affect global progress, invest in their communities and begin their journeys as the next generation of leaders.

As a family of brands, ANN inspires and connects with women to put their best selves forward every day. Through products, experiences and impact-oriented programs, the company is dedicated to helping women find their voice, lead and be remarkable, but we know it takes more than that. To truly thrive in our life journeys, we need mentors, guides, friends, allies and a devoted circle of support. In fact, numerous studies and established leaders today credit mentors for their success and achievements, which is why mentorship is central to the HERlead Fellowship.

Through a series of forums, grants, and relationship-building opportunities with peers and influential women leaders from various backgrounds, HERlead provides intimate mentorship moments, customized leadership training, and valuable skills and tools to inspire young women, help them realize their leadership potential, and change the world.

Patch article: https://patch.com/massachusetts/medford/medford-student-selected-national-fellowship