About Us
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Kisha and Zaria Martin Riley are the passionate founders of More Than a Model (MTaM), a dynamic initiative established in 2021 right here in Montgomery County, MD.
As dedicated residents of Montgomery County, Zaria and Kisha both have their own unique experiences navigating the Montgomery County Public School System. They understand the challenges and opportunities for growth, diversity and equality that presently exist in our community.
Our Vision
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MTaM is grounded in a powerful belief: that every child possesses the potential to shine as a star. However, just like a star, in order to put your best foot forward, you need a strong foundation. Kisha and Zaria are firm believers in building that foundation through confidence, mentorship, and leadership development. They are committed to empowering the youth of today to become the strong leaders of tomorrow.
Closing the Opportunity Gap
At MTaM, we are on a mission to bridge the opportunity gap, and ultimately, the wealth gap. We do this by inspiring and equipping underserved youth to look their best with the resources available to them. We recognize that feeling your best means addressing the whole person, and we are dedicated to nurturing self-confidence and leadership qualities in young minds.
Empowering Self-Expression
Our approach is deliberate: we create opportunities for self-expression through fashion, empowering young individuals to be themselves in a world filled with social media influencers and personas. At MTaM, we focus on building authentic relationships by celebrating similarities and learning from differences.
Our Commitment to Causes
More Than a Model is dedicated to several central causes that we believe are pivotal in achieving our goals. As a growing movement, we allocate our time and efforts to genuinely invest in each cause. We are acutely aware that youth in underserved communities often face social determinants and lack essential support, access, and tools to navigate life and develop critical life skills, cultural competencies, and social competencies.
Join Our Movement
Around 95% of youth in underserved communities lack the support, access, and tools to navigate critical life skills and social-emotional development. Together, with your support and commitment, we can make a difference.
Join Kisha, Zaria, and the MTaM community on this empowering journey towards building confident, compassionate, and capable leaders of tomorrow.