Mentors put dreams within reach
Teens earn while they learn valuable life skills
A couple of students want to be doctors. Another wants to be an RN. Still another wants to go into elementary education. Thanks to Sister Rose Marie Nigro, CSJP, they stand a good chance of achieving their dream jobs.
As an educator and longtime leader at PeaceHealth, Sr. Nigro brought the idea for the Youth Mentorship program to PeaceHealth St. John Medical Center in Longview, Washington in 1997. Since then, hundreds of young people from the community have been earning salaries and scholarship benefits while learning work habits and life skills from mentors at the medical center.
"These kids go on to do great things," said Cathy Barr, executive director for PeaceHealth St. John's foundation, which provides the key funding. The program is one of many legacies Sr. Nigro left on the Longview community and at PeaceHealth since her passing in 2015.
Hear what the students and mentors have to say about the program and what it means to them.
