In early 2020, Vanessa Otero joined our team as the first Director of the Smith College Urban Education Initiative. Vanessa graduated from Smith College in 2003. A deeply respected and accomplished non-profit leader, Vanessa returns to her alma mater after serving as t...

This profile is part of a series highlighting participants of the Urban Education Initiative, the umbrella program for Project Coach at Smith College.

Janeth Mora ‘21 went back to her home community in East Los Angeles for her fellowship. She was able to use her Spanish...

This profile is part of a series highlighting participants of the Urban Education Initiative, the umbrella program for Project Coach at Smith College.

​​​​​Mariama Jaiteh ‘20 completed her fellowship at Girls Prep Lower East Side, part of the Public Prep network of scho...

Libby Chafe is a Smith student who has volunteered with Project Coach for several years as an "Academic Coach," or tutor to our high school participants, our "coaches." Here, she reflects on her experience working side by side with Project Coach's teen coaches to devel...

A fixture in the Project Coach gymnasium for over seven years, Yesenia Valentin recently stepped into the role of Assistant Program Director. Her deep experience as a mentor and coach has led her to her current role, which includes being the lead organizer of the commu...

Master coach, skilled mentor, and committed student, Joe Wray embodies the skills and values that Project Coach cultivates in youth. His background with PC stretches far and wide - in fact all the way to France!

PC: What are you doing now?

Joe: Right now I’m a student at...

Priscilla Morales shares something that many of our long-term coaches often say: “I grew up in Project Coach.”

Priscilla joined the Project Coach team in 9th grade. “I started out shy and uncertain in big groups with other teens,” Priscilla recently explained. In s...