Mentor Spotlight: Meet Terrell M. Green
At Rainbow Labs, mentors are vital to our programs. They bring patience, honesty, and a willingness to connect, even without all the answers.
For this spotlight, we spoke with Terrell M. Green, a storyteller, theatre producer, and artist at the intersection of performance, technology, and social impact. As founder and lead producer of 267 Productions Co., Terrell has been a Rainbow Labs mentor since 2023.
Terrell discovered Rainbow Labs through Instagram and joined when programming was mostly virtual. Despite limitations, online sessions inspired him. He shares:
“You could see how much better the program would be if it were in person… and that made me want to do more.”
And from there, Terrell stayed connected, showing up more, getting involved, and building community in a way that felt natural. One thing that stood out during our conversation was how Terrell views mentorship as something ongoing, not just a role you step into once you feel “ready.”
“I’m a huge believer in mentors.”
They continued, even stating how mentors should also have mentors. When discussing the transition from being mentored to mentoring others, Terrell explained that the biggest shift wasn’t about leading; it was about listening. Being present enough to let the youth guide the conversation rather than forcing it.
“I’ve met young people who only needed someone to open the door and say, ‘Which way are we going? ’”
Terrell shared how mentoring at Rainbow Labs has brought unexpected healing. Connecting with queer and trans youth and hearing their stories has helped him reflect on his own youth with more softness.
“It makes me actually recall my youth and be like… wait, it actually was not all bad.”
And that’s the part people don’t always talk about—mentorship isn’t just impactful for the mentee; sometimes, it’s cathartic for the mentor, too. Terrell described mentoring two youth in particular and how different their experiences were. With one mentee, the conversations centered more on identity and family support. With the other, it felt like starting one topic and somehow ending up somewhere completely different (in the best way). In the end, what matters most is showing up authentically and making space for young people to do the same—because that’s when true connection happens, for both mentor and mentee.
We’re always looking for passionate mentors and facilitators to join our programs! Mentor and facilitation opportunities for Innovation Lab 2026 (East LA, South LA, and Fairfax/WEHO), launching this February, are still open. We are also recruiting mentors and facilitators for One Bold Summer (OBS) 2026, taking place in July. We welcome a wide range of people who are excited about specific program weeks - participants can commit to the full OBS program or just one or two weeks. If you’re interested in mentoring youth or leading engaging workshops and sessions, we encourage you to apply!
