Judge Judy Sheindlin expands mentoring program to 1,500 women

Judge Judy Sheindlin and her daughter Nicole Sheindlin launched Her Honor Mentoring in 2006 to provide professional guidance to high school girls in New York.

The initiative began with a small group of eight or nine students. It aimed to connect young women, particularly first generation college bound students from families with limited financial resources, with professional mentors who could offer advice on careers, education, and personal confidence.

The program now operates across the Bronx, Westchester, and Rockland counties in New York, with a pilot project in Burlington, New Jersey. Participants engage in a nine month hybrid mentoring experience where they work on communication, problem solving, and time management. The organization says mentees also receive financial literacy training and learn practical skills like preparing for interviews and writing professional emails. The program has grown to include more than 1,000 volunteer mentors from 400 different organizations and businesses.

This growth allows students to access professional networks and knowledge that might not be available at home or in school. The organization says the program creates a cycle of opportunity where former mentees eventually return as mentors to help the next generation of students.