YEI Youth Visit to the University of Mary Washington with the Call Me MISTER Program

A group of YEI attendees were taking on a trip to the University of Mary Washington, hosted by the Call Me MiSTER (Mentors Instructing Students Toward Effective Role Models) program.

The first hour was an introduction to the program which focuses on increasing the pool of available teachers from a broader range of communities and educational backgrounds in Virginia’s K-12 teacher workforce. Call Me MiSTER (CMM) prepares participants for impactful careers as elementary, middle, or high school teachers through the provision of resources and support to successfully persist them through the process of navigating college.

The second hour was a tour of the beautiful campus of Mary Washington led by college students from the University that are also leaders in the Call Me MiSTER program.

The visit also gave students an opportunity to explore the university environment, ask questions about college preparation, and envision themselves succeeding in higher education. Experiences like this are essential in helping young people build confidence, broaden their horizons, and see pathways to success that may have once seemed out of reach.

At Sounding the Alarm Youth Empowerment Initiative, we remain committed to creating meaningful opportunities that inspire, educate, and empower youth to become future leaders. We are grateful to the University of Mary Washington and the Call Me MISTER Program for welcoming our students and investing in the next generation.

This experience was more than just a campus visit — it was a day filled with encouragement, inspiration, and hope for the future.