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6957 North Figueroa Street, Los Angeles, Ca
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Our mission

PLUS ME Project activates the art of personal storytelling to build confidence in youth as they pursue their college, career, and life goals.

Opportunities

LISTEN 2026 Scholarship Essay Reader

At PLUS ME Project, we believe that everyone has a story that matters. Our mission is to activate the art of personal storytelling to increase confidence in youth as they pursue college, career, and life goals.

The My Story Matters Scholarship was created to encourage high school students to write and share their own personal narratives.

Help PLUS ME select five high school students to receive the $1,000 My Story Matters LISTEN Scholarship by scoring their personal story submissions.

Commitment:

  • Attend Virtual Onboarding: Wednesday, November 19, 2025 | 6-7 PM PST

(A recording will be available if you are unable to attend.)

  • Scoring Window: Nov 26 – Dec 12, 2025
  • Flexible Reading: Read and score essays on your own schedule using a provided rubric.

Your time and generosity will help uplift students whose stories deserve to be heard.

Register at: https://forms.monday.com/forms/3d7287c98c4aa0010f8c2d00c69b2b7d?r=use1

Registration closes Tuesday, November 18, 2025 at 5 PM PST.

Questions? Contact Jordee Kopanski at [email protected]

  • One-time
  • 21+
  • Virtual
  • Evenings
Register Here

Board Member

PLUS ME Project activates the art of personal storytelling to build confidence in youth as they pursue their college, career, and life goals.

We believe everyone has a story that matters and since 2013, we have impacted over 200,000 students from over 450 underserved schools in Southern California.

Headquartered in Highland Park, Los Angeles, PLUS ME Project is seeking a diverse group of new board members to join the team as we get ready to develop a new three-year strategic plan that will help us sustain our annual budget beyond $1M and deepen the impact we have on youth.

The Board of Directors support the work of the PLUS ME Project by providing mission-based leadership and strategic governance on all executive decisions, while also stewarding resources to help fulfill its mission.

Key Responsibilities:

  • Ambassador: Champion the mission by promoting the organization within your personal and professional networks
  • Strategist & Advisor: Provide strategic guidance and thoughtful oversight to support long-term goals and organizational health
  • Fundraising Support: Commit to a personal give/get of $2,500 annually through direct contributions and fundraising within your network
  • Meeting Participation: Attend at least 4 of the 6 board meetings per year (virtual and in-person)
  • Mission Advancement: Leverage your skills, expertise, and resources to open doors, build partnerships, and further the organization’s mission

This is a meaningful, high-impact volunteer opportunity for civic-minded leaders ready to invest in youth and help shape the next generation.

  • Ongoing
  • Adults
  • Individuals
  • Skills-based
  • Anytime

Associate Board Member

Serve as support to our team and board of directors in implementing fundraising and programming initiatives. Learn more about how a nonprofit runs and gain mentorship from a current board member.

  • Occasional, Monthly
  • Adults
  • Individuals
  • Indoor
  • None
  • Weekdays, Evenings, Weekends
Stories

No matches for criteria.

How you help

Our volunteers understand the value a role model can have on a student’s life and want to find meaningful ways to bring their talents and resources to help grow our mission.

About us

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 the years, PLUS ME developed eight 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. We are proud to share that we have positively impacted the lives of over 200,000 students from over 450 schools and organizations throughout Southern California.