WARREN – Inspiring Minds, a community organization that shows young people the possibilities that await them, last year increased its enrollment in the Mahoning Valley and expanded to three other cities. It will add six more chapters this year.
The Warren chapter experienced a full-circle moment when it hosted its annual gala in its own headquarters for the first time.
Other highlights included having 100% of IM seniors graduate high school for the 17th year in a row. Also, 25 graduates received paid internships through the Summer Career Development Program.
The Youngstown chapter doubled enrollment in 2023 and is anticipating the growth to continue in 2024.
“IM Youngstown is looking to plant our roots in the city even deeper,” says Tammye Hardin, IM Youngstown program coordinator. “We’re looking for more space, resources and opportunities to make a greater impact.”
A highlight for the chapters each year is their exposure trips. Last summer, Inspiring Minds took over 100 students on a cultural exposure trip to Charleston, S.C., and 25 students on a week-long trip to Costa Rica.
“It’s our mission to expose our students to the world and help them find their place in it,” says Deryck Toles, IM founder and CEO.
Inspiring Minds, founded in 2006 in Warren, has provided after-school and summer enrichment programming to thousands of young people.
The organization now has five chapters, adding new ones last year in New York, Philadelphia and Raleigh-Durham, N.C.
This year, IM will add chapters in Detroit, Dayton, Las Vegas, Columbus, Baltimore, and Baton Rouge, La., according to Toles.