Beatriz Herman

PLUS ME Project believes everyone has a story that matters. We activate the art of personal storytelling to build confidence in youth as they pursue their college, career, and life goals. Since 2013, we have impacted over 150,000 students from over 400 middle and high schools across the country. Based in Los Angeles, our team offers guest speakers presentations, storytelling and writing workshops, and professional development training sessions for students, parents, and educators. PLUS ME Project was launched in July 2013 by former Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) student, Richard Reyes. While earning his Bachelor of Arts degree in Critical Theory/Social Justice from Occidental College, he began sharing the story of how he became the first in his family to attend college with middle and high school students. Richard reached over 12,500 students from over 70 schools in Los Angeles. The response was overwhelmingly positive and the need became clear: a narrative-based outreach program for students could greatly impact this city. Richard trained a small group of relatable role models to share their stories of how they made it to and through college. The team visited dozens of schools and noticed students were inspired by the stories they heard but something was still missing. Turns out, they were lacking the tools and resources that would help them understand and share their own stories. Over eight years, PLUS ME developed six story-based programs that lead students, guardians, and educators through the process of building their own stories. Our work helps students articulate their experiences through self-reflection and vulnerable sharing. This unique approach has positioned us as an industry-leading organization supporting student wellness and future life goals.