Volunteer Interest Form SY26

Volunteer with Mouse
Get Involved. Make an Impact.
Volunteers play a vital role at Mouse. Your energy, perspective, and encouragement unlock student potential, without needing a big time commitment. Whether you’re mentoring classroom teams, judging project presentations, or sharing career stories asynchronously, your contribution matters.

Mouse is a NYC-based nonprofit that empowers students to create with technology to shape a better world. Our work focuses on supporting historically excluded youth in New York City public schools with access to AI education, mentorship, and career-connected tech experiences.

Our flagship program, AI League, is a year-long course that builds students’ fluency in applied and generative AI, app design, and computational thinking. Students design real-world tech solutions, engage with mentors from leading companies, and gain the confidence and skills to thrive in the future of work.

At the end of each school year, students present their projects at Emoti-Con, a citywide tech showcase celebrating youth creativity and innovation.

Volunteers like you are essential to making this possible!

Ways to Volunteer

There are many ways to get involved this year. Please click on each role for more details.

Classroom Mentor (In-Person & Virtual Options)
Classroom Mentor

Step up as a Mouse Classroom Mentor and transform lives—including your own! By bringing your professional experience into NYC public middle and high school classrooms, you’ll build authentic relationships with students, offering the kind of encouragement and social capital that can open doors, expand horizons, and change lives.

Across three sessions, you’ll guide students through real-world challenges, share feedback on their ideas, and celebrate their progress as they design and build their own digital projects.

Format:

In-Person & Virtual Options

Timing:

Session 1: Research & Landscape Analysis
Nov 10 - Dec 5

Session 2: Design & Development
Jan 5 - Jan 16

Session 3: Product Incubator
Feb 23 - Mar 6

Time Commitment:

5 hours total
- 30-min orientation in mid-October
- 3 one-hour mentor sessions (with 30 mins. prep each)

Travel time not included.

Hack-a-thon Mentor (In-Person)
Hack-a-thon Mentor

Help shape ideas that could change the world, in just one day! You’ll mentor a team of students from NYC public middle and high schools as they brainstorm bold ideas, build prototypes, and prepare their final pitches. You’ll build meaningful connections, expand students’ social capital, and inspire them to see themselves as future innovators and problem-solvers.

Format:

In-Person

Timing:

Sat, Dec 13, 2025

Time Commitment:

Full Day: 9:00am - 5:30pm

In-Class Presentation Judge (In-Person)
In-Class Presentation Judge

Judge the projects of the students you’ve been mentoring, helping them sharpen their ideas, succeed in their in-school competition, and hopefully advance to the final stage: the year-end competition, Emoti-Con.

Format:

In-Person

Timing:

March - April 2026

Time Commitment:

45-60 minutes; flexible scheduling by school (does not include travel time)

Workplace Visit Host (In-Person)
Workplace Visit Host

Give students their very first glimpse inside a professional workplace, and change the way they see their own future. By hosting a group of AI League students at your office, you’ll spark inspiration, build social capital, and prepare them for the internships and job interviews that lie ahead.

Format:

In-Person

Timing:

Spring 2026, by request (weekdays between 10:30 AM–1:30 PM)

Time Commitment:

1-2 hours per visit

Emoti-Con Judge (In-Person)
Emoti-Con Judge

Be a part of NYC’s most impactful student innovation competition!

Format:

In-Person

Timing:

Wed, May 20, 2026

Time Commitment:

Full Day: 8:30am - 2:00pm

Virtual Design Expo Mentor (Virtual)
Virtual Design Expo Mentor

More info coming soon.

Format:

Fully Virtual, Asynchronous

Timing:

May 2026

Time Commitment:

1 hour+ during a 1-2 week window