Starting at Cooper High School during the 2008-09 school year was a new initiative called “Women of Distinction” Mentoring Program. The goal of the mentoring program is for African American girls to develop positive peer relationships necessary to support each other towards becoming capable, responsible, and determined women. To achieve this goal, junior and senior high school girls are matched with ninth grade girls to provide academic and social mentoring throughout the school year. The focus is to assist ninth graders in being successful in a high school setting. The program began with mentors learning about each other and learning about WE WIN Institute. Through the Circle process, they share their stories. Many share about the struggles and pains in their lives. They allow themselves to be vulnerable and even share tears together. This sisterhood has led to incredible results with nearly ALL of our young women participants graduating high school and going to college!