USC Rites of Sisterhood youth mentoring program

Community Service*Leadership*Sisterhood*Self-Determination*Self-Responsibility*Self Discovery*

Our Mission

Rites of Sisterhood (ROS) is an organization of college and professional women dedicated to fostering the social, emotional, spiritual, and cognitive growth of young adolescent women through defining the essence of sisterhood.

Using self-determination, self-responsibility, and self-discovery as our three core principles, ROS strives to strengthen the University of Southern California’s surrounding community by guiding young women of color through the uncertain years of adolescence.

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Fun Facts About ROS:

* Rites of Sisterhood was founded during the 1997-1998 academic school year on the campus of USC

* Red and Black are the official colors of ROS

* ROS is a multicultural youth mentoring program that seeks to empower teenage girls through mentoring

* Our motto is “Sisterhood is Colorblind”

Interested in joining Rites of Sisterhood?

Please e-mail us at ros@usc.edu

to find out how you can get involved in the community!

Contact Us

E-mail: ros@usc.edu

Fax: (213) 740-3298

Mailing Address:

Rites of Sisterhood

3601 Trousdale Parkway

Student Union 415

Los Angeles, CA 90089-4899

Website:

www-scf.usc.edu/~ros

Myspace Page: www.myspace.com/uscros

Mentees

Rites of Sisterhood is proud to announce that 2007-2008 Mentee Applications are now available. The purpose of the application is NOT to exclude any potential mentee; rather the Executive Board wants to get to know the girls on a deeper level so that we can better assess their needs as well as evaluate their commitment level. Although there is no fee to join ROS, we are looking for dedicated young ladies who have a passion to learn and are willing to explore their potential through their participation in ROS.

In order to be eligible:

§         You must be at least 12 years old by September 24, 2007

§         You must complete the attached application and return it no later than Friday, August 17, 2007

§         If you are not a returning mentee, you must be currently enrolled at one of the following schools: Dorsey High School, the 32^nd Street School, Manual Arts High School, Crenshaw High School, or Foshay Learning Center

ROS will be building strategic partnerships with the following schools: Dorsey Senior High School, 32nd Street USC Performing Arts Magnet, Crenshaw Senior High School, Foshay Learning Center, and Manual Arts High School. This year, we will only be accepting applications from young women (ages 12-16) who are currently enrolled in one of these 5 schools**

** The only exception to this rule relates to returning ROS Mentees. Returning ROS Mentees who had good involvement, behavior, and attendance during the 2006-2007 academic year are invited to re-apply to ROS even if they do not attend one of these schools.

All applicants will be notified of acceptance in early September. Although the official date of the first session has not been confirmed, sessions will begin in early October.

If you are interested in joining Rites of Sisterhood, please download the application and return it by Friday, August 17, 2007! Applications will also be available at the ROS partner schools:

§         Dorsey Senior High School

§         32nd Street USC Performing Arts Magnet

§         Crenshaw Senior High School

§         Foshay Learning Center

§         Manual Arts High School.

The time commitment for ROS mentees is the weekly four (4) hour Saturday Sessions where ROS sisters enjoy a one hour brunch followed by a 2 hour session and a 1 hour de-brief. Mentees are expected to provide their own transportation to and from sessions (carpools between parents are encouraged). Mentees are also expected to participate in sessions and contribute to discussions, group projects, etc.

Mentors

ROS is looking for women of all cultures to join our sisterhood and prepare to make a difference in a young girl’s life. The dedication of our mentors is integral to our ability to fulfill the promise we have made to young women of color in South-central Los Angeles and to continue the legacy of those five founding members of Rites of Sisterhood. We could not run smoothly without the hard work and dedication of our mentors.

The time commitment for ROS mentors is a one (1) hour weekly general body meeting in addition to the weekly 4 hour Saturday Sessions. Mentors are required to pay $10 semesterly dues; however, the benefits of being a mentor and making a difference in a young girl’s life are priceless. Dues will be due in mid-September 2007.

During Saturday Sessions, mentors are encouraged to socialize with ROS mentees during brunch as well as engaging in sessions, which range from small group discussions and large open forums to group projects and field trips. Although mentors interact with all the sisters of ROS during sessions, each mentor is assigned at least one mentee by the Mentee Recruiter who assesses the needs of each individual mentee and assigns pairs accordingly.

Interested in becoming a mentor with Rites of Sisterhood?

Please e-mail us at ros@usc.edu to find out how you can get involved in the community!!!

We’d love to see new mentors at our meetings, events, and Saturday Sessions.

Please refer to our Events Calendar to find out what new and exciting events we have planned.

2007-2008 Executive Board

Rites of Sisterhood is completely organized by undergraduate students on the University of Southern California campus. The individuals that help guide the mentors are the Executive Board Members who are elected annually by their peers. In addition to serving as the leaders of ROS, the e-board members also serve as mentors.