Beranobel Melo Founded Nonprofit Mentor A Promise
The organization provides virtual academic support and mentorship to students facing housing instability in New York City.
Updated on Oct. 8, 2026 in Scholarships
Live Poll
Do you believe local nonprofits are the most effective way to support students facing housing instability?
In 2021, Beranobel Melo launched Mentor A Promise to provide academic support to children living in family shelters. The nonprofit utilizes a volunteer-led virtual model to ensure students have the resources needed for their education.
Why it matters
Melo established the organization to specifically address the educational hardships faced by children living in family shelters, where stays can sometimes last as long as three years. By leveraging remote mentorship, the initiative aims to bridge gaps for students lacking stable housing.
The program provides academic support and mentorship to students experiencing housing instability. It operates using a volunteer network and delivers tablets purchased with personal funds to families in shelters.
The players
Beranobel Melo
Beranobel Melo is the founder of Mentor A Promise and has a professional background in mental health, food insecurity, and family shelter support.
Mentor A Promise
Mentor A Promise is a nonprofit organization that provides academic support and mentorship to students experiencing housing instability through a virtual platform.
The details
Mentor A Promise matches students with remote mentors while delivering tablets to shelters to facilitate virtual learning. Founder Beranobel Melo, who previously worked in mental health and street homelessness, created the nonprofit to help vulnerable youth overcome educational barriers.
Timeline
2021: Mentor A Promise launched in its virtual model.
Culture Shift
This effort follows the pattern set by the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act, which mandates school stability for displaced students. It reflects a growing shift toward community-led digital solutions to mitigate the long-term educational consequences of housing instability.
Residents may see an increase in local volunteer opportunities as the organization continues to grow its operations across the city. Families currently residing in shelters can access academic support tools through the organization's virtual program.
The takeaway
Supporting educational stability for displaced youth is critical given that some children may remain in temporary shelter settings for years. Community members can contribute to these efforts by volunteering to serve as remote mentors for students in need.
Further reading
For additional context on local support initiatives, visit the Scholarships section.
More information
Learn more about the Mentor A Promise educational programs on their official website.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Amsterdam News.
Live Poll
Do you believe local nonprofits are the most effective way to support students facing housing instability?
