Monette Hamilton, Neighbor

Monette C. Hamilton

Youth Development Specialist. Advocate.

Monette C. Hamilton is an award-winning, bicoastal program development specialist with over two decades of experience in dynamic mental health programming through the arts aimed at youth empowerment, life skills, leadership and staff development. As a servant leader, her only goal and life's mission is to serve youth and their communities with sincerity.

Ms. Hamilton’s philosophy is “A child cannot be taught by anyone who despises him, and a child cannot afford to be fooled.” - James Baldwin.

Her leadership culture is a shared mentorship model with proven abilities to lead high-performance teams in youth development. She is fearless in her quest to challenge the norms of adultism that systematically discriminates against young people and advocates to make youth and their developmental needs a main priority.

Monette’s approach is simple, she designs engaging curricula to address the real concerns of young people. Monette took her experiences of working with young poets, writers and artists and expanded her quest even further by focusing on amplifying youth voices, youth empowerment and the shared mentorship of youth leaders and social media. One of her premier programs is “Media Minded,” using hip-hop as a tool to bring awareness and problem solving to youth on the East and West Coasts. This program assists youth in identifying and analyzing the influences hip-hop has on its juvenile listeners in the form of alcohol and substance abuse, mental health, anger and depression. Youth developed vocational skills related to journalism, radio, and television in this program and explored issues at a community level, family level, and a personal level.

Her experience encompasses program execution and evaluation across diverse communities and she has a record of success in developing and implementing innovative youth programs that support the strategic direction of organizations, and has worked and collaborated with regional and national partners including Boys & Girls Club of San Bernardino, New York City Department Youth Community Development, Carver Community Center in Norwalk, Operation Safe House, California Endowment, ASML, West End Youth Grant makers and more.

Monette has been recognized by California State Senator Richard D. Roth, Assembly member Jose Medina of the 61st District, Riverside County Black Chambers of Commerce, Congressman Mark Takano, House of Representatives Congressman Joe Baca (D-Rialto), and awarded by the Carver Foundation of Norwalk, Community Action Partnership of Riverside County, Moreno Valley Youth Opportunity Center, Rialto Alliance of Black School Educators (RABSE).

She was most recently a recipient of the 2023 Youth Recognition of Service to Youth Awards from the Juvenile Justice Delinquency Prevention Commission in San Bernardino, CA., for her work through The Hamilton Essentials Foundation, Inc.

Monette has also served as Director of Programs for Girls Inc. of Westchester County, a non-profit organization with the mission of inspiring all girls to be strong, smart, and bold. Training award-winning program staff for in-person programming and instrumental in launching a successful and engaging virtual program during COVID-19. Her quick and creative strategies helped the organization quickly pivot to a virtual program that is innovative, engaging and thriving in academic enrichment and leadership success. The organization has been recognized for its resiliency by the Business Council of Westchester and awarded Best Youth Organization Award in White Plains by White Plains Program.

She is a proud wife, mother, and ordained Youth Minister.