The project
Emerge Mentoring is a nonprofit initiative dedicated to changing the life trajectories of foster youth. It mentors teens ages 14 to 17 in foster care across the Blackstone Valley, Central and Southeastern Massachusetts, and Greater Providence, Rhode Island. I designed and developed Emerge's standalone web platform, balancing emotional storytelling with operational credibility.
The goal
The site speaks to several audiences at once: prospective mentors, partner churches, professionals making a referral, foster families and donors. Each one needs a clear next step. The site also had to keep brand continuity with the parent organization while giving Emerge its own identity.
What I built
The homepage opens with the tagline Seen, Valued, Heard over a full-width photo, followed by the mission and vision. Three program pillars come next: Mentoring for Teens, Living in Community, and Skills & Career Building. Below that, three sections cover purpose, action and stewardship: Work With Purpose, Get Involved, and Steward Resources. Partner logos and an FAQ accordion for teens, mentors and donors close the page.
The Get Involved page lays out four paths: Become a Mentor, Partner as a Church, Make a Referral, and Foster Care Families. Each has its own button leading to the right application or form. The What We Do page sets out the mission, vision and values. The About page tells how the program began and introduces the leadership team with photos and bios, along with the advisory team.
Built for the people who use it
Foster families and teens are most likely to visit on a phone, so I designed mobile first, with short sections and large buttons. A Donate Now button stays in the header on every page, and the Give link goes straight to the donation page.
The footer lists contact details for both locations, in Seekonk and Millbury, so visitors always know who is behind the program and how to reach them.
Client
Emerge Mentoring
Location
Seekonk, MA
Design notes
Navy blue and white with forest green section bands, a terracotta accent and a yellow Donate Now button. Bold, uppercase Montserrat headlines sit over a full-width photo hero with a dark overlay, with lighter Montserrat for body text. Photos of teens and mentors carry the story, and the layout alternates white and colored sections.
WHAT WAS BUILT
Key highlights
Purpose-driven design emphasizing mission and transparency
Dedicated sections for Purpose, Action, and Stewardship
Mobile-first accessibility for foster families and teens
Brand continuity with parent organization while establishing unique identity
Get Involved page with four paths: mentors, churches, referrals and foster families
Donate Now button in the header on every page
Three program pillars presented on the homepage
Leadership team profiles with photos and bios
FAQ accordion organized for teens, mentors and donors
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