Visage – Winter 2021

MENTORING
potential and power
On a cold November day in 2020, Chloe Lewis made a decision.
As the daughter of Ray Lewis she understood the need for
culturally aligned role models. (Ray Lewis set up EYLA as a
mentoring organisation for Black boys). Chloe decided that
she had a mission to unlock the untapped potential and
capability for greatness that exists within every Black girl.
Ernesta Amoah
Her solution – The Catalyst
Collective; a mentoring programme
run by Black women, for Black
women. The concept was simple;
Chloe believed that by pairing Black
girls with the right kind of support,
she would achieve her mission – the
concept of The Catalyst Collective
(TCC) was born.
Six Eastside girls started TCC in
January 2021. Six Black professional
women, trained by TCC would now
become our mentors; to guide and
support each of us to achieve all that
we aspire to be. The meetings took
place virtually via Zoom. Fast forward
to the end of year celebration (which
took place at Eastside) and it was
clear that our mentors were deeply
impacted by us, their mentees. We
had ignited a spark which has become
an inferno of sheer determination and
ingenuity. We finally met our mentors
in person, reflected on our virtual relationship,
laughed, ate pizza, played
games and shared gifts – it was a
magical experience. I have not yet
graduated from university but this
moment had an important buzz – this
was my graduation into role modelling
and I want to be like my mentor.
As the inaugural group of Catalyst
mentees, we will now go on to
support The Catalyst as it grows, and
will form part of the exciting Catalyst
youth advisory board - supporting the
induction of new mentees and advising
mentors along their journey.
I understand a good role model is a
central component in shaping the way
I dream, think and behave. This essential
ingredient makes this programme
so important, The Catalyst successfully
offered me something distinctive
to our existing high impact leadership
intervention at Eastside; when your
mentor looks like you, sounds like
you, and yet has achieved what you
dream of and still has time to push
you towards your goal – it is a valuable
yet priceless experience.
TCC is an explosive intervention
which has transformed my life forever
– thank you Chloe Lewis and The Catalyst
Collective team; having a mentor
I can identify with made me feel more
confident and at ease – if my mentor,
who is similar to me has succeeded – I
now have the faith and believe that I
can do the same. A programme that
uplifts the next generation of Black
girls is absolutely invaluable.
Chloe Lewis, founder of The
Catalyst Collective, is the
daughter of Ray Lewis, founder
and CEO of Eastside Young
Leaders’ Academy. Chloe is an
alumnus of the Black Heart
Foundation, she holds a Master’s degree in
Education, works as a civil servant, and is
currently studying in her second PhD year.
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