Background
Follow My Steps was founded after evaluating the pipeline of success for individuals in under-resourced communities and concluding more needed to be done. Originating from these environments gave a great perspective to the founders on how fortunate they are to have achieved success in career and education. Agreeing that the path wasn’t always clear, it became apparent that change was going to be necessary to make more minority high achievers. Follow My Steps was created to provide youth in under-resourced communities with the opportunity to be Pioneered by individuals from diverse cultures, to provide key career skills and enhance financial literacy.

What do we Offer?
Mentorship (Pioneering)
  • On demand access to Pioneers by appt.
  • Vetted professionals from various industries
  • Pool of Pioneers in varying age ranges, and cultures

Career &  Skill Development
  • Apprentice/Internship Placement
  • Opportunity for Explorers to showcase skills
  • Free seminars focused on key growth skills offered by Pioneers

Financial Resources  
  • Scholarships 
  • Financial literacy education

On-Demand Pioneering
Explorers will have the access to any Pioneer outside of their regular Pioneer*
During these sessions an explorer can ask to be mentored in some of the Pioneer’s listed skills
Pioneers can teach a group of Explorers in sessions called “Seminars”
Encouraged that Explorers attend
Seminar length ranges from 30 minutes to an hour
Seminars can be in person or virtual

*During standard hours of 7am-7pm. Special exceptions can be made.

​Mentoring, at its core, guarantees young people that there is someone who cares about them.

Research confirms that quality mentoring relationships have powerful positive effects on young people in a variety of personal, academic, and professional situations. Ultimately, mentoring connects a young person to personal growth and development, and social and
economic opportunity. Yet one in three young people will grow up without this
critical asset.

Young adults who face an opportunity gap but have a mentor are 55% more likely to be enrolled in college than those who did not have a mentor. (The Mentoring Effect, 2014)

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Meet Our Board

Board Members
CO-FOUNDER, CEO, PRESIDENT

KASHAWN
​SANDERS

Is the son of an entrepreneur and developed a passion for business at a...
CO-FOUNDER, VICE PRESIDENT,CLERK 

TYRONE
​WILLIAMS

Hailing from Jacksonville, FL, Tyrone relocated to Boston in his teen years... 
TREASURER

​HUBERT
​THEVENIN JR.

​Hubert Thevenin Jr is a Haitian American born and raised in Brockton, Massachusetts...
BOARD MEMBER

KAY’LA
​SANDERS

Kay’ la brings over six years of financial expertise to the establishment of the...
STRATEGY & DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR 

Anthony 
​Payne

Anthony was born and raised in Springfield, MA graduating from Springfield Central High...
BOARD MEMBER

SHAWN
​LOCKETT

Born and raised in Springfield, Massachusetts. Shawn is the son of a Police Officer...
MARKETING & FUNDRAISING DIRECTOR

TIFFANI
​WILLIAMS

Tiffani Williams is a serial entrepreneur committed to helping motivated...
​CREATIVE DIRECTOR

ARNALDO
​LASSEND

​Arnaldo Lassend Jr. was born in Bayamòn PR and moved to Brooklyn NY. He...

Staff

Administrative Officer

Samuel 
Freitas

Meet Our Advisory Board

Advisory Board Members
General Management

KEVIN 
​THOMAS

I'm a proud supporter of the Follow My Steps Foundation. I believe in their founders and their unique approach - pairing mentorship with critical skill building. Exciting times ahead for this organization and the various Massachusetts communities we're working in! ​​​
Certified Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner 
​

DR. KHADIJAH
​TUITT

Dr. Khadijah Tuitt is a Certified Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner who earned her Doctorate degree from the University of MA in Amherst.  She is the President of the Western Mass Black Nurses Association, an alumna of the Partnership Fellow’s Program for emerging Leaders of Color and was nominated for the prestigious National Compassionate Caregiver of the Year (NCCY) Award. As a child Khadijah experienced homelessness and neglect, and by the time she reached adulthood she was a convicted felon. She is often invited as a panelist or keynote speaker and uses her story of trials to triumphs to help organizations understand the barriers that many Black and underserved individuals face. She strives to create opportunities to breakthrough racial biases thus creating opportunities for organizations to understand the power of culture, diversity, and inclusivity. She also mentors in the community and is frequently invited to speak about the effects of substance use and mental health in the hospital, community, and on individuals and families. She is passionate about increasing awareness regarding mental health disparities in underserved communities and in communities of color.

Arnaldo Lassend III

Senior Explorer
Born and raised in Springfield, MA. Arnaldo, or “AJ” as he’s called by friends and family, has always had a passion for gaming. He credits famous streamers such as Ludwig and Arcadum, as major influences to the gaming world that ultimately captivated his interest. Amazed at their unique styles, he decided to venture into streaming. Through dedication and consistency he has amassed 1.1k followers on twitch, 56.8k followers on TikTok. He’s reached 2 million views on tik tok videos.

Even though his passion is gaming, he will be pursuing a Chemical Engineering degree at Westfield State College. He states he always “liked the cause and effect of combining chemicals to make a reaction”, as his driving factor in picking his major.

AJ is excited for his next step and continues to work on building his gaming career as well. He knows the importance of having an education as well as a backup plan. As he progresses through our program, he’s willing to guide junior explorers who show interest in the gaming industry on what it takes to build their brand.

​​© Follow My Steps Foundation Inc. All rights reserved. EIN 85-2648252 
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