12 Mentor Moments I Hope We See in 2024
There is nothing like the first day of a calendar. Like a blank page laid invitingly before us, it marks the starting line of the year. The crackle of fire before we feel the heat. Flawless icing before the first bite.
Because you know that moments of joy await. Arianna Huffington, a role model of mine whose advice in Être: Girls, Who Do You Want to Be still gives me goosebumps, wrote yesterday about looking back on moments of wonder and awe, and it made me think about the mentor moments I hope to see for the next generation in the coming year.
Here are 12 that spring to mind:
In January, which is National Mentoring Month in the US, I hope that youth and adults alike recognize that mentors matter earlier than we might expect. The data bears it out and we’re doing more math – watch for new stats later this month.
In February I hope Black History Month overflows with honor and inspiration as the 2024 theme African Americans and the Arts spotlights “the richness of the past and present.” I also hope be my mentor replaces be my valentine as the next gen’s ask of the month - the candy part obviously remaining.
In March I hope our celebrations of International Women’s Day, Equal Pay Day and Women’s History Month point girls towards goals of empowerment, equality, and slamming gender pay gaps shut like lockers.
In April I hope girls grab eclipse glasses to watch the sun and moon align in a total solar eclipse on the 8th. Passing over the US, Mexico and Canada, this will be the last total eclipse for more than 20 years; our mentors at NASA have the details here.
In May, as Être turns 8, I hope more global girls see who they can be through our platform. May is also AAPI Heritage Month, and the 2024 theme Advancing Leaders Through Opportunity dovetails with our mission – watch middle schooler Grayson Sethi’s TED-Ed talk on AAPI pride to see this in action.
In June I hope to see communities come together to celebrate Pride Month, World Environment Day, and Juneteenth with joy, and to help rising activists in all these areas meet mentors who can springboard them toward impactful action at an early age.
In July I hope to hear the wild cheering of girls watching sport role models compete in the Paris Summer Olympics, remembering that 77% of girls in our survey said a mentor in sports would give them more confidence about any future career they chose.
In August I hope Book Lovers Day brings girls face to face with authors who inspire; so many new and innovative options are open to young authors now, the promise of their words on a printed page may be more real than ever in 2024. DM me for details.
In September I hope that on International Peace Day we are witnessing an end to violence, a renewed spirit of global tolerance, and unrelenting calls to action to ensure the safety and security for the most vulnerable among us trying to come of age.
In October I hope that International Day of the Girl empowers every girl to raise her hand and her voice. We will be hosting our first live TEDxÊtre event in NYC at this time, and my excitement knows no bounds.
In November I hope that our Be Charitable page continues to encourage girls to give their time and skills with unfettered abandon. Giving Tuesday is one of my favorite days of the year, and amplifying causes near to my heart is a tradition I love seeing extended to new generations.
And by December I hope that we are looking back at a year of mentor moments, where curious girls asked smart questions and epic women answered with energy and empathy. December is always a time for thanks, and as I write this, I am overwhelmed with gratitude for the women who have hosted and advised our girls as they raise bright eyes to the future.
A year is made up of many moments that when placed together give us a mosaic to remember. May 2024 fill our lives with moments – and mentors – that matter.
Looking forward,
Illana
ÊXTRAS: The 2024 theme for International Women's Day is Invest in Women: Accelerate Progress; three areas of focus you won't want to miss are implementing gender-responsive financing, shifting to a green economy and care society, and supporting feminist change-makers. Learn more here for how to get involved early. And happy New Year!
