My Sister’s Circle is a comprehensive relationship-based program designed to mentor girls from disadvantaged Baltimore neighborhoods during their challenging transition to middle school, throughout high school, and into college.

Description:
• Develop mentoring relationships between girls residing in Baltimore’s inner city and hand picked highly qualified volunteer mentors,
• Provide resources and tools, such as tutoring, which can lead to a measurable increase in academic performance,
• Enhance participant’s academic curriculum by regular exposure to, and participation in, Baltimore’s cultural, educational, recreational and community offerings,
• Solicit and obtain scholarships for day and overnight summer camps and programs as well as summer jobs,
• Act as a vehicle of change by developing partnerships to create a measurable increase in the number of economically disadvantaged, minority girls who are accepted into public school honor programs and independent middle and high schools, and
• Create a support system that advocates for and helps girls in this demographic to achieve high school graduation, college attendance, and eventually productive citizenship that allow them to live up to their potential.

History:
My Sister's Circle was created as a direct response to a request from Ms. Irma Johnson, principal of Dallas Nicholas Elementary School, a Title One school where most of its students come from economically disadvantaged families. In the fall of 2000, Ms. Johnson expressed concern that some of her most promising fifth grade girls were getting lost as they made the transition to middle school. Lacking guidance, these girls were prey to traditional urban risk factors including teen pregnancy, dropping out of school, drug use, incarceration and violence. This initial conversation was the genesis of My Sister’s Circle. Today, My Sister’s Circle serves over seventy-five girls representing 40 various public and private middle and high schools throughout the state. MSC was selected for the Excellence in Mentoring for Community Programs award from The Maryland Mentoring Partnership in May of 2005.

Contact person: Heather Harvison, Executive Director , (phone), (email)
Office fax number: (410) 561-3399

Address:

P.O. Box 84 Timonium, MD 21093