Initiatives
Initiatives
The Wily Network has adopted three initiatives to help us continue to build on our foundation, expand our network, and improve our programming.
Expansion
We’re expanding our organization to serve more Scholars and meet the growing need for our services.
Learn more about our open positions.
Career Preparation
Our Career Fair exposes Scholars to job and internship opportunities. Learn how you and your company can support the 2023 Career Fair.
Make a Gift to Help Wily Serve More Scholars
Expansion
Where we started
When campuses started closing in March of 2020, we started receiving more referrals than ever before. We realized that we don’t just want to grow: we need to grow, in order to keep up with the demand from students in the greater Boston area.
So, we set a goal: to expand by 15 Scholars a year, until we reach 210 Scholars in 2029.
Where we are
We started the year with 65 Scholars. Over the course of 2022, we worked with a total of 91. We welcomed 30 new Scholars and celebrated 18 graduations, bringing our community of alums to 51.
In order to expand, we are hiring! Know someone who might be interested in helping us grow?
Where we started
Many young adults deal with significant mental health challenges during college. As a result, colleges offer the option of taking a medical leave of absence to pursue treatment for a semester. But without a stable home to return to, or the ability to pay for expenses, going on medical leave is rarely a realistic option for Scholars.
We set two goals to support Wily Scholars’ mental well-being: to create a fund to pay for therapy, and to step up our support for students who are taking a medical leave.
Where we are
We partnered with board member Cindy Lawry and students at Boston University’s School of Public Health Practicum Program to research the landscape of college mental health medical leaves nationwide. By the end of 2021, we had developed a “first of its kind” medical leave support program for Wily Scholars.
Wily’s medical leave program keeps students connected with coaching and Wily community events, while helping fund their therapy, housing and food.
Do you know a Therapy provider who would like to help us offer affordable services to Wily Scholars? Please get in touch with info@thewilynetwork.org
Mental Well-Being
Mental Well-Being
Where we started
Many young adults deal with significant mental health challenges during college. As a result, colleges offer the option of taking a medical leave of absence to pursue treatment for a semester. But without a stable home to return to, or the ability to pay for expenses, going on medical leave is rarely a realistic option for Scholars.
We set two goals to support Wily Scholars’ mental well-being: to create a fund to pay for therapy, and to step up our support for students who are taking a medical leave.
Where we are
We partnered with board member Cindy Lawry and students at Boston University’s School of Public Health Practicum Program to research the landscape of college mental health medical leaves nationwide. By the end of 2021, we had developed a “first of its kind” medical leave support program for Wily Scholars.
Wily’s medical leave program keeps students connected with coaching and Wily community events, while helping fund their therapy, housing and food.
Do you know a Therapy provider who would like to help us offer affordable services to Wily Scholars? Please get in touch with info@thewilynetwork.org
Career Preparation
Where we started
When the pandemic hit, we knew college seniors would be graduating into a tough job market. On top of that, Wily Scholars deal with another obstacle: the “network gap,” or the advantage some individuals have in their careers simply because of who they know.
We decided to launch a career fair to help Wily Scholars make professional connections, build confidence, and practice their interviewing skills.
Where we are
We held Wily’s first Career Fair in October 2021 with 18 companies.
In 2022, we honed the Career Fair program based on student feedback. We brought in recruiters from a wider variety of fields, and who better reflected the diversity of the greater Boston area.
Scholars networked with representatives from 24 companies–including two Wily alums, who returned to speak with Scholars about their careers!
Do you have a job or internship opportunity that Scholars might be interested in? Would your company like to attend our Career Fair?
