ABOUT
MENTOR ME™
Why are we here?
Mentor Me of Ulster County™ is dedicated to providing crucial support and guidance to at-risk youth aged 6-17 through our evidence-based mentoring program. So many children in our community are facing challenging situations every day - from homelessness, food insecurity, immigration, violence, and more. That's why we prioritize recognizing and addressing Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACES), taking a holistic approach to supporting the well-being of each child we serve.
Our program is centered around the core values of ASK, HELP, and HOPE. We ask compassionate questions to understand each child's needs, respond with helping statements to provide support and guidance, and work tirelessly towards instilling hope and resilience in our Mentees.
The importance of mentorship cannot be overstated. According to the Who Mentored You? study, a staggering 1.8 million young people in the U.S. have grown up with virtually no adult support. Moreover, today's 18-to-21-year-olds express unmet mentoring needs related to mental health challenges at significantly higher rates compared to previous generations. Youth from BIPOC communities and lower income levels also experience disproportionately higher rates of unmet mentoring needs.
At Mentor Me of Ulster County, we are committed to addressing this critical mentoring gap in our community - providing a nurturing environment where youth can thrive, overcome challenges, and reach their full potential. Our goal is to empower every Ulster County child with the support, guidance, and resources they need to succeed in life.
Meet Our Team
Rachel Orourke
CEO
I’m incredibly honored to serve as CEO of the Mentor Me foundation and continue the amazing mission of Stephanie Kresser.
Prior to taking this position I worked for Coordinated Children’s Services as an MST therapist, practicing a model of community-driven family based treatment for at risk youth. I was previously a case manager for the NEXIS program which uses TST (trauma systems therapy) to prevent placement of youth who engage in high risk behavior as a result of trauma. I began my career in human services as a community health worker with MiSN (Maternal infant services network), which addressed the problematic racial disparities in maternal health and successful parenting. I have completed internships in fundraising and business development. I currently hold a Master’s of Science in Organizational Leadership from Mercy College, graduating with a 3.9 GPA and published thesis on the ethics of higher education as a business model. I have a Bachelor’s of Science in Psychology, and an Associates degree is in Liberal Arts.
As a youth I’ve experienced many of the same barriers and disadvantages as the families our organization serves. I deeply understand how issues such as poverty, chronic homelessness, food insecurity, decreased access to pro-social activities, as well as lack of educational support and resources gravely impact opportunities for low-income families. I’m passionate about paying forward the mentorship that changed my personal outcome, creating hope and inspiration for the youth we mentor, and continuing to cultivate a work environment that recognizes and values the indescribable humanitarian efforts our staff and volunteers dedicate themselves to every day.
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Brenna Whitaker
DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS
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Brenna has called the Hudson Valley home for over a decade. She currently lives in the Kingston area with her family. Her professional background is deeply rooted in administration, providing vital support to organizations. In her role as Director of Operations, she is committed to streamlining processes and maximizing the organization's impact on at-risk youth in Ulster County. Brenna sees her work at Mentor Me as more than just a job—it's an opportunity to be part of something transformative and impactful in her community.
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Andrea Rodriguez
CASE MANAGER
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Coming soon.
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Stephanie Kresser, LCSW
FOUNDER & BOARD PRESIDENT
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Stephanie is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and former Attendance Social Worker, working with mostly toddlers and adolescents. She often saw children who suffer from family conflict, mental illness, and homelessness. However, the most prevalent issue she saw in her work with chronically absent children was children who do not have a significant role model or adult figure in their life. To combat this and to be an agent of change, she worked with passion and determination to form Mentor Me of Ulster County™, a non-profit mentoring program. Her passion lies in calling our community to action, to support families, guide children, and promote a strong educational base for all children.
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Andrea Alamia
BOARD TREASURER
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Andrea has been working with children for 20 years and specifically dedicated her focus to children with autism for the past 15 years. She is trained in RDI, ABA, & play therapy. She attended Kingston High School and SUNY Ulster. She currently works as a Special Needs Nanny. Her big heart and kind soul are her best assets. A natural caregiver, she loves children, animals, and nature. She is actively committed to help with resources for animals in need of fostering and adoption. Since joining Mentor Me she has fully immersed herself in bringing the community together offering her support with Mentees individually or helping organize and coordinate events and fundraising.
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Jeanie Antonelle
BOARD SECRETARY
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Coming soon.
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Susan Nelson
BOARD MEMBER
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The Hudson Valley has been Susan’s home since middle school and she grown to love the Hudson River, Gunks and Ashokan Reservoir. She attended Kingston High School, SUNY Ulster and the University at Albany. As a member of the Bruderhof Communities, she is committed to caring for and serving others. She works full time in information technology, but has always made time to volunteer in schools or spent time mentoring children – especially teaching them how to identify birds. She believes that few things are more important than protecting and nurturing our children to allow them to achieve their unique potential.
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David Garraffa
BOARD MEMBER
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Bio coming soon.