Accomplishing Our Mission Through
Community
Outreach
CORE makes a concerted effort to create a culture of hope for youth in Erie County. To achieve this, we help facilitate positive relationships between youth, peers, and adults by partnering with schools and education sites each academic year.
Welcome!
Our Research in Action
The Community Outreach team designs and implements evidence-based mentoring programs for students. In addition, our team develops and delivers high level trainings on topics such as trauma informed approaches, resilience, peer mistreatment, adolescent development, and mentoring best practices.
Mentoring
Built upon evidence-based research, our programs are designed to increase key protective factors in the lives of our students. Examples of protective factors include hope, empathy, gratitude, and a growth mindset.
Training
Elevating our communities begins with providing the tools needed for individual and organizational success. Our interactive trainings are designed for educators, parents, nonprofit organizations, businesses, students, and community members.
The Story Exchange
We believe our stories are our greatest strength. We have partnered with Narrative 4 to provide a platform for sharing our stories to promote connection and empathy.
Our Partners
United Way
Erie’s Public Schools
UnifiedErie
Erie Community Foundation
Erie Insurance
Kristin Hesch, M.S.
Associate Director of Community Outreach
Lecturer, Psychology
Kristin Hesch developed an interest in youth and adolescents while pursuing her Psychology degree at Penn State Behrend, including an internship with The Ophelia Project. She obtained her master's degree in organizational leadership from Mercyhurst University, with a research thesis focused on the roles of empathy and forgiveness in relational aggression. Kristin has spent the past 20 years mentoring middle and high school students in the Erie community through training, speaking, and facilitating networks of connection. Kristin speaks with passion, clarity, and enthusiasm for progress. As an Erie County native, Kristin brings to CORE a passion for strengthening the next generation of our community through partnerships and collaborative efforts.