Minds Matter is an opportunity to make your dreams come true. As long as you believe in yourself and want to go beyond anything you’ve been capable of before, those dreams can come true. It’s an entire world of its own with alumni, connections, and opportunities being available all the time.”
Kalayla, Class of 2020
Minds Matter taught me the importance of understanding, teamwork, and leadership. Through the affection of my mentors, patience of my instructors, and support of the Minds Matter family, I gained hope in a better future; a future founded on the belief of the power of education, strength of perseverance, and appreciation of diversity. I entered my first session to a room filled with strangers, and will leave my last session knowing that I have a second family.”
Jackie, Class of 2014
One of the greatest decisions of my life has been to join Minds Matter. The material advantages such as the summer programs and SAT preparation Minds Matter have given me do not come close to the amount of love I have received. I always call this program my second family because I truly feel at home there.”
Opemipo, Class of 2014
Achieving Their Full Potential
Andy
When Andy began his Minds Matter journey as a 15-year-old sophomore in 2010, he probably didn’t foresee his future as the holder of a Doctorate in Physical Therapy a decade later.
Dr. Andy, an alumnus of Minds Matter Los Angeles’ inaugural class, received the prestigious degree from Daemen College in Amherst, NY in 2019, making him the first MMLA graduate to earn a doctorate.
Andy’s advice to that 15-year-old he was back in 2010, “Listen to understand and learn, not for the sake of. Don’t take a second for granted. Take advantage of anything and everything that excites you.”
Kortnee
Kortnee graduated from Minds Matter Los Angeles’ first class in 2013, and she enrolled at Washington D.C.’s Howard University knowing exactly what her major would be–Administration of Justice, with a minor in African American Studies.
“I chose to follow this major because I got the opportunity to learn more about the juvenile justice system and its impact on communities of color,” Kortnee says.
She secured an internship with the D.C. Department of Corrections Juvenile Unit, as well as the D.C. Department of Youth Rehabilitation Services. As a teacher for AmeriCorps, she was placed in the challenging Las Vegas Valley educational environment. While teaching for two years, she earned her Masters in Elementary Education, Curriculum, and Instruction from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas.
Jonathan
Jonathan, Minds Matter Los Angeles’ Class of 2014, has built his life around helping young people discover their own power. After earning his undergraduate degree in education from UC Irvine and completing his Master’s in Education at USC, he is now an elementary school teacher with the Los Angeles Unified School District.
His path into education began with his own early struggles as a reader. Seeing similar challenges among the students he tutored — especially adolescent Hispanic children in his community — pushed him to pursue deeper training and to ground his work in a social‑reconstruction philosophy. Jonathan believes that when students understand they can be agents of change, they begin to see their futures differently.
In his volunteer role as a Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) facilitator, Jonathan creates spaces where students feel safe, seen, and heard. He asks thoughtful questions, listens without judgment, and helps young people name what they’re feeling — building confidence and emotional literacy alongside academic skills
Opemipo
Opemipo, Minds Matter Los Angeles’ Class of 2014, has always pushed boundaries. After earning her undergraduate degree from Stanford University, she completed a dual‑degree MD/MBA program at UCLA’s David Geffen School of Medicine, Charles Drew University of Medicine and Science, and UCLA Anderson School of Management. Today, she is an internal medicine resident — a doctor committed to expanding access to quality care.
Her passion for medicine grew from what she witnessed in both the United States and Nigeria: communities facing deep inequities in healthcare, shaped by systemic racism, gentrification, and limited access to healthy food and medical resources. Ope hopes to be a strong advocate for underserved communities in Los Angeles, using her training to expand equity and dignity in care.
She remains grateful for the relationships she built at Minds Matter — mentors who encouraged her, challenged her, and continue to cheer her on as she steps into the work she once dreamed about.