Profiling Mentor and Mentee Alum: Rachel and Lashanda

“I’m forever grateful to Girls Write Now. The transition from my home in the Bronx to Ithaca College was difficult, but I looked to Girls Write Now and could always count on my mentor, Rachel.”
– Lashanda Anakwah, Mentee Alum and Writing Major, Ithaca College 

Dear Friend,
With Rachel, her dedicated mentor, by her side, Lashanda discovered her voice and the guts to tell her story. Armed with skills and confidence, Lashanda wrote her way to the college of her dreams, and will graduate this spring with a writing degree.
Girls Write Now’s mission is to secure a successful trajectory for all our young women, and every donation, big or small, makes this happen. Please support the next generation of young women writers.

It’s an exciting time at Girls Write Now as we are poised for significant growth with a strategic plan to double the number of girls we serve. We’re over 50% of the way to our goal of raising $100,000 by December 31st.  Join us and contribute to Girls Write Now this holiday season!

Rachel recently visited Lashanda at Ithaca College, and reflected on their pair sessions through the years that led to this point. Here is one memory from a late night Google Chat exchange over a memoir piece Lashanda was submitting to the Scholastic Art & Writing Awards:
1:16 a.m. Rachel: how’s it going?
1:17 a.m Lashanda:  good. but i feel bad. hope ur not waiting for me.
1:19 a.m. Rachel: it’s ok. i want to see this through.
1:20 a.m. Lashanda: aw!
Lashanda would win the Scholastic Art & Writing Award Gold medal for her piece. Let’s change lives together, one girl at a time.
Warmly,

 
 
 
Maya Nussbaum
Girls Write Now Founder and Executive Director