WEST CHESTER — Main Line Mentoring, a Tredyffrin-based nonprofit offering educational and tutoring programs for school-age children, is expanding its programs to help more young people prepare for future careers, thanks to funding secured by state Sen. Carolyn Comitta.
“The sooner we can help young people explore career options and get thinking about how they can contribute to our economy and our society, the better positioned they will be for long-term success in school, work, and life,” said Comitta, a former public-school teacher who serves on the Senate Education Committee. “Integrating job and career-readiness into education programs just makes sense. We’re focusing on that in our schools, and now Main Line Mentoring is doing it, too. I also want to thank Kevin Stroman and all supporters and volunteers at Main Line Mentoring for their work on behalf of our kids.”
The $50,000 grant, which comes through the Pennsylvania Department of Education, will help Main Line Mentoring restructure and expand to offer comprehensive job training and career readiness services, including career coaching, job skills development, resume writing and interview preparation, career workshops, information on certification programs, internship and job shadowing opportunities, and more.
“The funding will enable us to extend our free after-school tutoring program and introduce new educational, life skills, employment, and leadership initiatives for young adults across the Main Line. We express our sincere appreciation to Senator Comitta for her essential contributions and ongoing commitment to our community,” said MLM founder and President Kevin D. Stroman Sr.
Based out of the historic Carr School/Mount Pleasant Chapel in Wayne, MLM was originally founded by Stroman in 1994 under the name Kids First Now. Since then, the organization has grown significantly to include after-school homework help and tutoring four nights a week, cultural programs like field trips to museums and theatrical performances, and opportunities for social interaction.
MLM’s plans to incorporate job training and career readiness in its academic support services aim to help bridge the gap between school and employment, particularly for underserved youth who face barriers to academic and career success.
The program will support 35 to 50 students and families annually and plans to help them explore future careers and develop job-specific goals, while increasing high school graduation rates and college and career readiness.
Through access to hands-on learning experiences, information on jobs in high-demand industries, networking opportunities, and guest speakers from various fields, MLM aims to create a pipeline to sustainable employment and foster long-term economic growth.
For more information on Main Line Mentoring, visit mainlinementoring.org