AAUW Mentor Program: Life Lessons and Support

The American Association of University Women’s Stockton branch is helping young women by offering leadership, support, tutoring and help with college applications. The effort evolved after branch members realized that middle school students who attended AAUW’s Tech Trek Science Camp could use ongoing assistance.

“We had these girls, who were nominated by their teachers, go through an application and interview process to attend Tech Trek Science Camp. They would go to the camp, which is held in the summer at a university, and then we would never see them again,” Pam Mallett-Jones, coordinator of the AAUW Mentor Program, said. “So, we said, let’s mentor them! We just wanted them to be college educated and pursue their dreams. We’ve been 100 percent successful.”

The one-of-a-kind program—yes, Stockton is the only AAUW branch in the U.S. that does this—has mentored 70 young women over the years. Along the way, they’ve enriched their lives with experiences, tutoring, life lessons and the kind of support that comes from someone who wants to see a young person become their best self.

After attending Tech Trek, the Stockton Unified students are encouraged to take part in the Mentor Program. “Many times, they are from non-English-speaking families with single parents and low socioeconomic backgrounds. They have very few opportunities,” Pam said.

Until they graduate from high school, these young women meet with their mentors as group once a month and one on one, if necessary. For instance, if they need tutoring, there is always someone in AAUW who can step up. Mentors offer help filling out applications for university admission and college scholarships. They also provide life lessons and experiences. This could include a trip to San Francisco via Amtrak, BART, municipal buses, street cars, Uber and Waymo. “On that trip, our goal was to look at the everyday uses for transportation and technology,” Pam said. The group also visited the Salesforce Transit Center, a multi-level regional transit center on Mission Street, where they took a gondola to a 5.4-acre park on the roof. They also dined in restaurants and learned lessons that some take for granted, such as table manners, how to order, paying the check and tipping. The trip made such an impression on one girl that she is entering college this year to study civil engineering!

Each summer, the Mentor Program hosts a retreat that alternates among the mountains, beach and city. For some mentees, it’s the first time they have ever left Stockton. “A few girls had never seen an ocean. One time, we even hired someone to give them swimming lessons. At Asilomar, we learned some of our girls had never ridden a bike,” Pat said.

Marissa Garduno is a student at San Joaquin Delta College now and thanks the Mentor Program for inspiring her to dream big. “They gave us opportunities and experiences that showed us the possibilities for our future,” she said. Marissa especially remembers a “Dinner with a Scientist,” during which each dinner table featured a scientist in a different field. The teenagers were able to speak with the scientists and learn about their journeys to their present-day careers.

“Overall, it gave me a lot of confidence to take school more seriously and think about what I wanted to do with my life,” Marissa said. She is planning to transfer from Delta College to Sacramento State to study criminal justice with the goal of becoming a crime scene investigator. “I really love the program; it was empowering for us.”

Marissa keeps in touch with the other mentees. “We call each other our STEM sisters,” referring to bonds that began at the Tech Trek Science Camp. She hopes to join AAUW and become a mentor herself one day.

The Mentor Program costs about $22,000 a year to operate and Pam is constantly applying for grants and seeking funding. The AAUW branch is very supportive of the program, but it’s just one of their outreach efforts.

Pam affirmed the program fills a vital need. “I needed this when I was their age,” she said. “I grew up in a single-parent household. My mother was a waitress and thought college was a waste of time.” Pam would go on to college and establish a career in education. When she retired, she looked for her purpose and found it!

“We don’t tell them what to do; we show them the possibilities,” she said. “One of our biggest goals is to help students become comfortable in the world.” This could be as simple as learning table manners or emphasizing the importance of saying please and thank you.

On November 7, mentees will be showing their gratitude by helping with the AAUW Stockton branch’s Thanks for Giving Tea, which takes place at Central United Methodist Church. The event is AAUW’s major fundraiser and helps support their community programs such as Reading is Fundamental, Tech Trek STEM camp, Mentor Program, scholarships and more. The tea incudes a sweet and savory assortment, tea, silent auction and live entertainment. Tickets are $55 per person.

For more information, visit aauwstockton.org or contact Pam Mallett-Jones at pmallettjones@gmail.com.