A Six-Year Mentorship Story That Ended with $20K Raised

Finding Her Way Back to Chinatown

When Janelle Teng walked into P.S. 001 in Chinatown on a Saturday morning in 2019, she thought she was signing up to teach reading lessons. She didn’t realize it would be the start of a six-year journey that would transform her relationship with community and herself.

“I first got involved with Apex because I wanted to show up for Chinatown,” she says. “For many years, I heard stories from my husband’s grandfather, who immigrated from China in the 1930s and actually went to that same school. I just felt this deep pull to give back.”

For Janelle, those early mornings spent leading literacy sessions with first- and second-graders weren’t just volunteer hours, they were moments of reconnection. “There’s something really grounding about returning to a place with so much history, especially when it’s tied to your own family’s immigrant story,” she reflects.

What began as a local commitment soon deepened into something larger. When the pandemic hit and Apex pivoted to virtual programming, Janelle followed, this time as part of the organization’s Programa nacional de tutoría virtual (NVMP), designed to reach youth beyond New York City.

Meeting Teresa: A Connection Beyond the Screen

Janelle’s match, Teresa, was a high school student from New Jersey, quiet at first, but curious and full of potential. Their conversations began on video calls after the uncertainty of lockdowns, online classes, and the stress of college applications.

“This was my first time mentoring someone Teresa’s age,” Janelle recalls. “I was blown away by her emotional intelligence. We talked about everything, friendships, family, and how to handle change. She navigated all of it with so much grace.”

For Teresa, that steady presence made a difference.

“My experience with NVMP has been such a fun and joyful journey,” she says. “Janelle helped me through high school, the college process, and just guided me along the way. I met so many new people through the program, gained friends, and found opportunities I never would’ve had otherwise.”

The two met virtually for nearly two years, building a friendship grounded in mutual curiosity and care. “Janelle always encouraged me to be open-minded and supportive,” Teresa shares. “Now that our formal mentorship is ending, I feel like I’ve gained a good friend I can always count on.”

Teresa is now beginning her first year of college, carrying with her the same curiosity and openness that defined her time in NVMP. The lessons and friendship she built with Janelle continue to guide her, a reminder that meaningful connections can grow far beyond the screen.

Lessons in Creativity, Mindfulness, and Growth

Despite the physical distance, Janelle and Teresa found ways to create tangible memories. One of their favorite projects was their year-end creative project, a simple idea that turned out to be much more meaningful.

“We both wanted to do something hands-on, so we decided to sculpt with clay,” Janelle laughs. “It started as just a fun art activity, but it opened up these bigger conversations about mindfulness, creativity, and giving. Later, Teresa started making little clay gifts for people in her life.”

It was a moment that captured the spirit of the Apex mentoring experience: creativity as connection, learning as a two-way street. Janelle says. “I learned just as much from Teresa, from other volunteers, from the entire Apex community.”

Deepening the Commitment

Beyond mentoring, Janelle’s time with Apex evolved. She joined Apex for Youth’s Junta Asociada (AB) three years ago, strengthening the volunteer community.

“Apex is all about depth,” she explains. “You don’t come in and have shallow relationships. You get to know people, you talk about identity, belonging, purpose. I joined AB because I wanted to deepen my relationship with the organization and the people in it.”

Together with fellow Associate Board member Elizabeth Yan, Janelle co-created a small group curriculum called Identity Development, a volunteer-led space for mentors to explore their own stories and cultural identities. 

“We realized that we ask our youth to do so much deep thinking about who they are, and we wanted to give volunteers a place to do that too,” she says. “It was one of the most meaningful things I’ve worked on.”

Through Apex, Janelle found a community of adults also navigating growth, people who were eager to learn, give back, and build something lasting. “Volunteering at Apex has been a practice,” she says. “It’s not just about doing good; it’s about practicing openness, trying new things, and showing up even when you’re unsure.”

Mentorship as a Mirror

Over the years, Janelle has come to see mentorship not only as service, but as reflection. “Being a mentor makes you more intentional,” she says. “You start thinking, ‘How do I want to show up for my mentee?’ and that awareness starts to ripple out into the rest of your life.”

That ripple was visible in her relationship with Teresa. “By the end of our match, Teresa told me that seeing me speak up in workshops helped her feel more confident doing the same,” Janelle remembers. “She said, ‘I saw you do it, and nothing bad happened.’ That was such a special moment, it reminded me that even small actions can make others feel braver.”

“Most of all, Apex gave me a model for living out my values: while I truly believe it takes a village to raise the next generation, volunteering gave me another way to embody that role.” 

A Full Circle Moment

After six years of volunteering, mentoring, and serving on the Associate Board, Janelle “graduated” from her formal Apex roles. To celebrate this milestone, she and her husband (who’s also an Apex mentor) pledged to match donations to Apex, raising $10,000 and matching it dollar-for-dollar for a total of $20,000 in support of the next generation of mentors and youth leaders.

“It felt like such a full circle moment,” she says. “I joined Apex thinking I had something to give, and in the end, I received so much more: Friendships, laughter, perspective, and a deeper sense of belonging.”

As we kick off Giving Season, join us in celebrating mentors like Janelle, whose dedication transforms communities and inspires the next generation to dream without limits. With your support, we know that every moment and every dollar will help Asian American youth from low-income and immigrant backgrounds. 

Mark your calendar for Giving Tuesday, December 2.