Mercy Education Project Alumnae
Meet Estefania
Michigan State University Student
Estefania, MEP Girl’s Program alumna and 2019 high school graduate class, is a now a student at Michigan State University, studying neuroscience and minoring in Japanese. When she completes her undergraduate degree, she plans to enroll in an accelerated graduate nursing program at MSU.
Estefania made her dreams a reality through Mercy Education Project’s College and Career Readiness Program. “My favorite thing about MEP was the second home it provided for me and several other girls,” she shares. Estefania is grateful for all the academic, networking and confidence building opportunities she experienced at MEP.
As a young woman, Estefania is a role model for others girls in southwest Detroit. She returned to speak with MEP’s high school juniors, advising them, “Never let what others think about you, what the educational system thinks, or anyone who does not believe in you, get to you. Because you will make it out of this community and strive to make it better.”
Estefania lives this motto: “Keep pursuing your dreams and never let anyone’s opinion change what you want for yourself.”
We are so proud of Estefania and our MEP alumna and know they will reach their dreams!
Wendy
Ready to Take the World by Storm
Wendy, Dalia, Dulce and Andrea are sisters who are soaring at MEP. These young women have been active in MEP’s after school tutoring program for a combined total of 21 years. Wendy is ready to take her world by storm!
In addition to tutoring, Wendy participates on MEP’s high school robotics team and is a mentor for the MEP elementary age girls’ Lego League “Teeny Tiny Tigers.” A senior at Western High School, Wendy has been prepared for college with MEP’s support and has been accepted to Alma College, Olivet College, Bloomfield College (NJ) and the Ivy League’s Columbia College in New York City, with scholarships!
Wendy wanted to share with you what MEP means to her and her growth as a young woman. “Mercy Education Project has taught me that education is the most powerful weapon you can use to change the world. It also taught me to develop my knowledge and share it with the kids who are seeking the type of help I needed.”
Wendy plans a career in the women’s education field, to give to others as she has received from the MEP family. Wendy is already putting her plans into action by helping Dalia, Dulce and Andrea with their MEP online studies at home. “I am not a teacher (yet) but mentoring the Lego League team members has given me good experience. I try to teach my sisters how to think, not what to think. They should decide what to think on their own.”
Charis
Leading by Example
Persevere, never give up, and stay in school for the kids. Charis Hale is not just telling her three young children how to accomplish their goals, she is showing them.
In 2017 Charis was ready to to finish her education and returned to MEP. She was able to pass all of her exams except math, but with help from Mary Beth Lohman, she was able to pass her final GED math exam in 2019.
Two weeks after passing her exams, she began a two-week intensive Certified Nursing Associate (CNA) certified program with a local nurse training program. Charis was salutatorian of her CNA program and will take her state licensing exam in November of 2020.
Sheila
On Track toward her GED
After overcoming a life of obstacles, Sheila became empowered and decided she wanted some thing better for herself; that’s when she enrolled into Mercy Education Project’s GED program. Now Sheila is back on track, striving toward her GED certification and a steadier, more successful path for her future.
Although Sheila attempted several training programs before MEP, she did not feel as though they were able to give her access to the jobs, opportunities, and careers she really wanted in her life. Sheila felt that her GED was the main component missing from achieving the life and career she wanted. According to Sheila, “Without it, you go nowhere.” Part-time jobs kept her afloat, until at age 57, her desire for stability and a better life prompted her to knock at MEP’s doors.
Through the pandemic crisis, Sheila continued to work online at home. MEP sent her computer cords, printer ink, and instructions on how to get free internet service. Sheila is safe, healthy, learning online with the tools provided by MEP and also helping others in her apartment building. Way to go, Sheila!
Sheila will soon achieve her GED certificate, enabling her to take the next step of her life and secure well-paying, satisfying employment.
Former MEP Student?
We’d love to hear from you and see how you are doing. Call or email us with an update about what has changed since you were last here including your contact information. A staff member will get back to you! You can also connect with us via Facebook.
We look forward to hearing from you!
Volunteer Tutor Mary Jo
Making an impact
Volunteer Tutor Marla
14 years and counting
Marla Gibson is a proud grandma, was a Detroiter for 50 years, and has a passion for reading because “reading helps you succeed in every part of your life.” That’s why Marla dedicates much of her free time to tutoring students with three different organizations. Mercy Education Project is fortunate to be one of them.
Marla is in her 14th year (2023) of volunteering with MEP and drives from Farmington Hills to southwest Detroit weekly to serve as a reading tutor in the Girls’ Program. She got involved after seeing a posting at her workplace, DTE Energy, and going to an informational meeting at MEP. “When I first started, we didn’t have software, we had workbooks and printed lessons,” Marla recalls. She fondly remembers her first student, Ashley, that she had for 2 years, and another student, Dalia, that she tutored from 1st-7th grade, and then Dalia’s sister, Dulce. This year, Marla is paired with Allison whom she also tutored last year.
Marla recognized that one of her students had emotional needs as well as academic needs. After taking tests or progress checks at MEP and discovering she had made a few mistakes, the student would be very upset and down on herself, thinking one error meant total failure. That is where Marla would step in and encourage the young girl by telling her to focus on everything she got right and look at her growth.
On the flip side, Marla remembers how exciting the “a-ha” moments are – with each student, she says, there are always exciting milestones to celebrate. Those shared moments are what makes tutoring so rewarding for her.
In addition to the learning software provided to MEP tutors, tutors are encouraged to give learning their own fun spin. Marla explains how her students love the whiteboard. “The whiteboard is an awesome learning tool to keep students engaged in a lesson. Simply writing a word from a vocabulary list on the board and discussing it can lead to better results. Colorful markers and ‘playing teacher’ allows the girls to perceive the tutoring session as fun, which results in better comprehension — and it shows in student test results.”
Marla’s love of reading is also apparent as she encourages her students to complete book reports for MEP, especially during Reading Month. Marla tries to find a book that relates to the student’s interest and always takes the time to learn what TV shows, music, and general things her student enjoys.
We are grateful to have Marla as a long-time dedicated tutor!
Three years ago, Mary Jo, a retired teacher, typed “girls education” into the internet search bar, and found Mercy Education Project. MEP’s mission resonated with her. Mary Jo saw that it was founded by the Sisters of Mercy, and being Catholic herself, decided to investigate. She loved how it is focused on working with women and young girls and provides them with opportunities they might not otherwise have had.
Mary Jo is a tutor in the girls’ after-school program. “I was looking for something that would give me an opportunity to work with young students. That is something I truly enjoy and this is a great environment to get involved with,” she said. Mary Jo shares her talents with not just one girl each week, she stays to work with a second student throughout the full school year.
“I've always been so impressed with them. The girls are coming here after they have spent the entire day at school. I do both sessions. So, the girls get picked up from school by the school bus, and they come in, extremely happy to be here; very hardworking as well.”
“Then the second young girl that I work with arrives, again on the bus - a very organized system. She doesn’t leave until 7 pm., so that shows how hardworking and dedicated they are. They are extremely fun to work with. It’s a pleasure seeing them learning more in the program, getting better at what they are doing with the academics. I love seeing that and how they get excited about being successful.”
Thank you Mary Jo and the other 100+ volunteers that make MEP’s success possible!
