Erika M. di Renzo
Mentor Advocate & Trainer Empowering Vulnerable and Marginalized Youth, Adults, Families @Youth Advocate Programs, Inc.
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WORK HISTORY
Mentor Advocate & Trainer Empowering Vulnerable and Marginalized Youth, Adults, Families @Youth Advocate Programs, Inc.
Haddon Heights, NJ, US
As a Credible Mentor, I help position vulnerable youth to use their traumatic experiences and their backgrounds as springboards to stronger, brighter futures. The young people trust me because I have had similar experiences and can show them how to bridge the opportunity gap, empower themselves, and bring about socio-economic transformation in their lives. I have the unique ability to teach people how to put themselves in the driver’s seat, to then use the thing that frightens them the most and grow from it.As Mentor and Advocate, I plan, develop, and implement custom-tailored mentoring intervention programs to positively impact the lives of historically-excluded individuals. In addition, I train other mentors and work with leaders to help guide youth, adults, and families to harness productive struggles to discover solutions.I see, feel, & hear people. I get their vulnerabilities. It is my heart’s desire to help people embrace their life experiences and culture, align with their true vibrant self, but also to equip them to build a sense of agency within themselves. YAP is an internationally recognized, nonprofit organization that provides individuals with the opportunity to develop, contribute, and be valued, so that communities have safe, economical, and proven-effective alternatives to institutional placement. Contact me to discuss my ideas on how to spearhead cultural literacy in education as well as outreach to the marginalized and vulnerable to facilitate student success and improve l••••••••@aol.com
EDUCATION
Stockton University
Bachelor’s Degree
University of Phoenix
Master of Arts - MA Ed/AET
Atlantic Cape Community College
Associate of Arts - AA
ABOUT ERIKA M. DI RENZO
Human growth potential is at the heart of everything I do, and cultural literacy is my fuel. My vision is to build up a nation of teachers for whom cultural literacy is a given, who creatively adjust their teaching to speak to their particular students to help them recognize, celebrate, and love who they are and grow into their greatest potential. And the fullness of \'teaching\' for me comes in a variety of forms - coaching, training, & mentoring. This passion is inspired by my own background of having to grow into an appreciation and love of who I am, of my whole person. I am a Black woman, however that doesn’t deny other truths of who I am, and I love every part of me. But that took work. I know what it’s like to grow from difficult circumstances, so I can teach people how to leverage the thing that frightens them the most, to take difficulties and use them as fire to become stronger, richer people. I am a transformational leader, facilitating the success of students from pre-K to college through cultural literacy, community engagement, and experiential learning. But I’m also a powerful peer mentor and coach. My strengths lie in cultivating people, growing relationships, and nurturing outcomes. Some examples of my successes: Co-researcher and co-author of a graduate-level book that led to the establishment of Career Centers on all 3 campuses of Presenter; works presented to 1/3 of NJ’s community colleges, other colleges nationally Teacher of pre-K-12 & college students: 15+ years Multiple Award-Winner: Promising Practices Award for Career Infusion (2016); Creative Content Award (2015); Extra Miler Award (2017) Credible Mentor for vulnerable youth Peer Mentor & Coach, helping others to find their own authentic voice in their teaching & leadership styles Schools must be culturally responsive and have more teacher diversity in order to improve educational outcomes. Contact me to discuss my ideas on how to spearhead cultural literacy in education, reach \'rising scholars\', and facilitate radical student success. e•••••@aol.com
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