Columbus Youth Mentoring Initiative Has Expanded
The program provides students with local mentorship and leadership opportunities across five city schools.
Updated on Sept. 24, 2026 in Secondary Education
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Founder Ralph Carter has expanded his youth initiative across Columbus to connect students with mentorship, community service, and leadership development. The program now serves students at five different schools throughout the city.
Why it matters
The initiative aims to provide students with positive outlets and stronger local connections to keep them engaged in their education. By fostering school pride, the program intends to help youth stay away from violence.
The WE ARE Mindset initiative currently supports students across five schools, including Linden, Mifflin, Centennial, East, and South. This represents a growth from the original WE ARE LINDEN organization.
The players
Ralph Carter
The founder of the youth-focused WE ARE LINDEN organization and the architect of the citywide WE ARE Mindset expansion.
The details
The program operates by connecting young people with mentors and resources that support school engagement and college exposure. Participating schools often adopt localized branding, such as South High School adopting the brand WE ARE SOUTH to encourage community pride. These efforts provide students with structured leadership development and pathways for community service.
Timeline
September 24, 2026: The expansion of the initiative was officially documented.
The Home Front
This expansion aligns with broader efforts to integrate community-led mentorship models into the Columbus public school environment. It marks a shift toward localized identity initiatives intended to strengthen student connection to their home neighborhoods.
Families with students at participating high schools should contact the school office to learn how their child can access local mentorship resources. Parents can also look for opportunities to support community service events associated with the WE ARE Mindset brand in their neighborhood.
The takeaway
Building strong youth connections to the neighborhood is a proven method for improving school engagement and safety. Residents should keep an eye on school communication boards for upcoming leadership development events and opportunities for their students to get involved.
Further reading
For more on how local programming impacts student development, see our full guide on Secondary Education.
Source note: This article includes information reported by WSYX.
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