Mentoring Across Generations

The world needs credible and competent leaders of character. We know that Black girls and women, especially, do not always have the access or opportunities to reach their potential or positively impact their communities to bring about change. 

At Leadership LINKS, we make long-term investments in small groups of people, because intentional, deep work and dedication produces transformational impact. Not only does this benefit girls and young women personally, but through their leadership, they influence communal, systemic, and social change that ripples across generations. We mentor and we multiply!

Leadership LINKS uses well researched best practices and a small group mentoring model to help develop the “whole girl” - with: 

  • Character and spiritual development 

  • Education and life skills  

  • Exposure to a variety of career fields 

  • Inspiration and support 

Leadership LINKS Mentors

  • Person wearing glasses and a black top, standing against a plain background.

    Carmel Smalls

    Alexandria, VA

    Middle School

    Carmel Smalls is a career civil servant with the Department of State currently working as a program analyst. Prior to her career transition, she had the wonderful privilege of serving military families as a teacher and support services coordinator for youth and teen programs in Europe and Asia. While on a new career path, Carmel still enjoys mentoring youth and helping them through life’s challenging transitions, as she did for children with dual military parents while living overseas. She believes her experience with mentorship, her time as a military spouse, and educator has equipped her to serve as a mentor for Leadership LINKS. She enjoys traveling, the arts, learning about different cultures and friendly competition.

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    Natalie Stennis

    Whitsett, NC

    High School Girls

    Natalie is the owner of Step By Step Transformations LLC, where she serves as a Christian Life Coach helping working women accomplish the goals they care about. She also works as the Environmental Health & Safety & Security Manager for Axalta Coatings Systems in Concord, NC. She is originally from the Midwest (Omaha, NE & Little Rock, AR) and attended an HBCU, Rust College in Holly Springs, MS where she earned a Bachelor of Science in Chemistry in 1994. Natalie earned another Bachelor of Science and a Master of Science degrees both in Chemical Engineering from the University of Missouri-Columbia in 2000. She enjoys mentoring the next generation of conscious leaders, and educating them about history and the impact that Africans have had on this world. When she is not working, she loves reading, watching television, and spending time with friends and family.

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    Dr. Natasha Sistrunk Robinson

    Durham, NC

    High School Girls & Young Women

    Dr. Natasha Sistrunk Robinson is President of T3 Leadership Solutions, Inc. and Visionary Founder and Chairperson of Leadership LINKS, Inc. A graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy and Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary, she holds a Doctorate of Ministry degree (DMIN, Leadership) from North Park Theological Seminary. She is a sought-after international speaker, leadership coach, and consultant with more than 20 years of leadership experience in the military, federal government, academic, and nonprofit sectors. She is the author of several books including Voices of Lament, Journey to Freedom (Exodus Bible study), A Sojourner’s Truth, Hope for Us: Knowing God through the Nicene Creed Bible study, Mentor for Life, and its accompanying leader’s training manual. She hosts A Sojourner’s Truth podcast. Natasha has honorably served her country as a Marine Corps officer and employee at the Department of Homeland Security. She is a wife and mother who resides in Durham, NC.

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    Stephanie Polk

    Upper Marlboro, MD

    Young Women

    Legal Advisor, Stephanie Polk, has been a mentor for the Leadership LINKS Mentoring Program for Girls, a member of the Board of Advisors and has now accepted an appointment to the Board of Directors, and as a mentor for the

    Leadership LINKS Mentoring Program for Young Women. Stephanie loves God and serving His people. She enjoys working with the like-minded

    Christian leaders who are dedicated to leadership development and Mentoring Across Generations. Having attended a women’s college for her undergraduate degree, Stephanie recognizes the importance of empowering youth to find their voice. She believes it’s imperative that young women are connected to a strong network of leaders who will nurture and encourage their spiritual development so that they can serve with excellence and positively impact their communities. Stephanie has practiced law for over twenty years and currently works for a federal agency in the Office of the General Counsel. She was recently appointed to the Senior Executive Service, a cadre of federal executives operating at the top levels within an agency. Stephanie and her husband, Sean, live in Maryland and have two wonderful sons, Sean II and Connor.