The Luminary Empowerment Pathways Mentorship Program, powered by Paint Your Canvas Foundation, is a transformative leadership and personal development model designed for at-risk Black and Brown youth ages 5–21 in New York City. This initiative connects mentees with culturally aligned mentors who serve as guides, catalysts, and advocates, nurturing the next generation of leaders, visionaries, and change-makers.
At its core, the Luminary Initiative is not just mentorship; it is the engineering of mindset, the recalibration of identity, and the activation of legacy-building practices in often overlooked communities. Participants engage deeply in a multidimensional curriculum that blends academic enrichment, leadership training, financial literacy, arts, athletics, and STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, Agriculture, and Mathematics).
Mentorship is infrastructure. It is the bridge between potential and opportunity. Through deep one-on-one relationships and dynamic group engagements, our youth gain access to the tools, networks, and real-world exposure they need to thrive.
Key program outcomes include:
- Increased self-confidence and goal-setting
- Career and college readiness support
- Access to professional networks and internships
- Mental wellness and identity-affirming programming
- Ongoing support from mentors, coaches, and peer circles
The Luminary Program aspires to impact 100 youth and families by 2030, starting with a cohort of 25 high-potential, under-supported young people each year.
We are building leaders who will survive, own their own, design the system, and elevate the culture. This call to action is for those who believe in equity, access, and power redistribution through mentorship.
Join us. Support the shift. Be a Luminary.
Learn More: https://paintyourcanvas.org