2025 Mentors of the Month

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This past May, Josalyn Harrington proudly graduated from Digital Pioneers Academy and continued her journey with BEST Kids as a participant in our summer programming sessions. She credits her continued involvement—and much of her confidence during this exciting new chapter—to her mentor, Justyce Watson. To Josalyn, Justyce is more than a mentor; she’s the “big sister she always wanted.”

Josalyn shares that she feels completely comfortable talking with Justyce about anything, especially as she navigates the transition into college at
George Mason University. Their bond has been built through shared experiences, meaningful conversations, and consistent support. One moment that stands out most to Josalyn was when Justyce traveled with her to college, helped unload her belongings, and even took time to decorate her dorm room—turning a big, emotional milestone into a warm and encouraging experience.

Having a mentor to talk through school, friendships, and life changes has helped Josalyn feel less alone and reminded her that she has a strong support system cheering her on—especially her BEST Kids family. Matched for over two years, both Josalyn and Justyce agree that their connection is truly a perfect match.

We are incredibly grateful to Justyce Watson for her unwavering dedication, generosity, and heart. Thank you, Justyce, for showing up, going the extra mile, and being the steady support every young person deserves. And to Josalyn—thank you for being amazing, resilient, and inspiring. Your journey is just beginning, and we can’t wait to see all that you accomplish. 
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BEST Kids would like to celebrate the beautiful bond between Zoey and her mentor, Meghan. At just 7 years old, Zoey is full of light, curiosity, and boundless energy. She loves exploring new activities, expressing herself through art, and embracing every opportunity to learn.

Meghan has been an incredible presence in Zoey’s life—showing up consistently with patience, encouragement, and genuine care. Their time together is full of fun, growth, and shared experiences, from practicing focus and mindfulness through yoga to celebrating Zoey’s Paint & Sip birthday party. One of Zoey’s favorite memories is their trip to The Jump Place, where laughter and adventure flowed freely, with Meghan cheering her on every step of the way.

The connection between Zoey and Meghan is a shining example of what mentoring looks like at its best. Meghan’s dedication goes beyond scheduled sessions—she supports, inspires, and celebrates Zoey, helping her feel confident, empowered, and excited to explore her creativity and the world around her.

We are so grateful for mentors like Meghan who show up fully for their mentees and make lasting impacts on their lives.
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We are thrilled to recognize Howard Garrett as our Mentor of the Month! For over a year, Howard has been a dedicated and inspiring mentor to his mentee, Tyson Franklin, building a relationship rooted in trust, encouragement, and growth.

Howard’s commitment to uplifting youth doesn’t stop there. As the Advisory Neighborhood Commissioner in NoMa, he actively advocates for positive change and works to strengthen the community he calls home.

Howard has gone above and beyond in supporting BEST Kids — including connecting our program with King Street Oyster Bar to create exciting opportunities for youth entrepreneurship this summer. His positive mindset, strong leadership, and unwavering dedication truly embody the spirit of mentorship.

We celebrate Howard not only for the meaningful impact he has made in Tyson’s life, but also for the powerful example he sets as a mentor and community leader. Congratulations, Howard — and thank you for all that you do!
What’s your fondest memory from spending time with your mentee?
One of the most memorable events with Tyson was when we went to Legoland. This was one of our first events together. It was good to go back a couple of years and experience things from his perspective.

Which was your favorite Peer Group?
I really appreciated the Brother to Brother event. To hear and understand how we mentors could be most effective, meeting our mentees where they are was a great insight. Also, being able to cross barriers for our mentees to be vocal about their needs and where they need help most. This helped build trust and relationship.

What is the biggest challenge you’ve faced since becoming your mentee’s mentor?  
The biggest challenge is being present as much as I can. With my schedule I am working to be more present and ensuring that I am meeting the moment in being an effective mentor.

What are some of your hobbies or activities you enjoy in your free time?
I love to try new restaurants, travel, and go to museums. Also love diving into politics, we are in the nation's capital, right? Lol
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1.What’s your fondest memory from spending time with your mentee?
My fondest moment is our most recent trip to Busch Gardens. It was a long, yet fun-filled day!


2.Which was your favorite Peer Group?
My favorite Peer Group is Glow and Grow (all of them have been really impactful and enjoyable).


3.What is the biggest challenge you’ve faced since becoming your mentee’s mentor?  
The biggest challenge I’ve faced is the distance between our residences, and the need to go a bit out of my way to pick my mentee up, only to double back to the BK office or various other events.


4.What are some of your hobbies or activities you enjoy in your free time?
Volunteer at my church and in my community, spend time with my family and friends, spend time with my mentee (K’nyah), read, travel, bowling, running/physical activities, learning, etc.
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Q&A With Sam
1.What’s your fondest memory from spending time with your mentee?
There are so many, it's hard to pick! Bradley and I are constantly doing new fun things together. The Escape Room we did last year was a blast - we managed to escape just before the time ran out.


2.Which was your favorite Peer Group?
The Brother to Brother session that Carl led was excellent. Bradley was reluctant to attend, but once it started, he was highly engaged and honest, and made genuine connections with Carl and the other mentees.


3.What is the biggest challenge you’ve faced since becoming your mentee’s mentor?  
Bradley has experienced several challenges in his personal life over the years. It's difficult to strike the right balance between acting as a mentor and stepping in to intervene when difficult situations arise.


4.What are some of your hobbies or activities you enjoy in your free time?
I'm a big sports fan, both watching and playing. Lately I've gotten back into playing rugby. I also love to travel, and this summer I have trips to Ireland and France which I'm pumped for. 


5.What is your current Job/Career and what is something you enjoy about your work?
I am an actuary and help organizations manage their employee retirement plans. Every day is a little different, and ultimately our goal is to improve retirement and financial outcomes for individuals, which is a passion of mine. ​
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Q&A With Jillian
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​1.What’s your fondest memory from spending time with your mentee?

My fondest memories with Ronzeneyla are our annual traditions around Christmas time. Every year we do something festive like ice skating, going to see light displays, etc. Most years I take her to the Gaylord for the Christmas village and “ice!” experience. It always feels like a time when we can lean into the joy of the season, laugh together, enjoy each other’s company and let the craziness of life slip away.


2.Which was your favorite Peer Group?

They are all amazing! One that stands out is spending the day with medical students at Howard University. It was inspiring to learn the students’ journey and helped expose the kids to chasing their dreams and some of the amazing opportunities they can pursue. It also taught great lessons on anatomy and living a healthy lifestyle.


3.What is the biggest challenge you’ve faced since becoming your mentee’s mentor?

The biggest challenge for me has been setting and keeping to healthy boundaries on my role as a mentor.


4.What are some of your hobbies/things you like to do in your free time?

I enjoy hiking, swimming, biking, yoga, traveling, and spending time with my pups and friends and family. I’ve tried to introduce Ronzeneyla to many of these things!
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Q&A With Lauren
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1.What’s your fondest memory from spending time with your mentee?
One of my favorite memories with Donjae was when we hung out just doing homework together for three hours—lol—and he has been showing progress ever since. This moment showed me how much our bond is growing and how impactful this mentorship can be.

2.Which was your favorite Peer Group?
We haven’t experienced many Peer Groups yet. Still, the Christmas Party was a lot of fun because I got to see my mentee interact with other kids in the program and got to see him light up playing football, which at the moment is one of his favorite hobbies.

3.What is the biggest challenge you’ve faced since becoming your mentee’s mentor?  The biggest challenge I’ve faced is consistency in communication. However, I see every challenge as an opportunity to grow and I’m committed to meeting Donjae where he is while helping him move forward.

4.What are some of your hobbies/things you like to do in your free time?
In my free time, I love exploring new restaurants, traveling and working on creative projects. I also enjoy reading and continuously learning new things that help me grow both personally and professionally. Giving back to the community has always been important to me, whether through mentorship, supporting young professionals, or helping small businesses with branding and marketing strategies.
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Q&A With Arlo
1.What’s your fondest memory from spending time with your mentee?
My best memory with Marquis is from our recent trip to the National Portrait Gallery. It's been gratifying to watch his attitude on museums shift -- during our first few outings he was not super excited about them, but now he looks forward to them and even requests them for our outings. At the National Portrait Gallery, he was excited to see a portrait of someone named Marquis (de Lafayette) and it was cool to witness his genuine enthusiasm. Hearing him call a uniform from the 1700s a "W fit" always makes me laugh too.​

2.What is the biggest challenge you’ve faced since becoming your mentee’s mentor?  It's finding new ways to drive home the same message: your grades and your behavior at school are paramount to getting to where you want to go. It's not always easy and we have had some minor setbacks in our (almost) two years of working together, but it's been rewarding to see the message slowly take root for him.

3.What are some of your hobbies/things you like to do in your free time?
I like going to different great restaurants around the city, and catching whatever NBA game is on TV (Go Celtics!)

Match of the Year!

Meet James, BEST Kids' Mentor of the Year, and his mentee, Joshua!
From music stores to basketball courts and bowling lanes, they’ve created amazing memories together. James also brings Joshua to peer group events, strengthening their bond while exploring new experiences.
Congrats, James and Joshua—we can’t wait to see what’s next!

2024 Mentors of the Month

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