Doris Thomas grows youth mentorship nonprofit in Cincinnati

By AI, Created 11:31 AM UTC, May 20, 2026, /AGP/ – Doris Thomas, founder and CEO of Never The Less, Inc., is expanding a Cincinnati-based nonprofit that mentors at-risk teen girls, young women and young men through school partnerships, internships and community programming. The work matters because it combines emotional support, life skills and violence-prevention strategies for youth facing detention, trauma and other barriers.

Why it matters: - Never The Less, Inc. is aimed at youth who face instability, trauma and limited access to support. - The nonprofit pairs mentorship with education, leadership training and emotional wellness programming. - The model is built to help participants gain confidence, purpose and practical skills for school, work and daily decision-making.

What happened: - Doris Thomas is the founder and CEO of Never The Less, Inc., a nonprofit based in Cincinnati, Ohio. - Thomas built the organization around mentorship and community-centered support for at-risk teen girls and young women. - The nonprofit now also serves young men ages 12-17 through a chess-based mentoring program. - The organization is expanding programming into Cincinnati Public Schools and local recreation spaces this summer. - Thomas is being profiled by Influential Women as a faith-driven mentor and community leader. - Readers can learn more through Thomas’s Influential Women profile or the nonprofit’s website.

The details: - Never The Less is based at 7162 Reading Rd, Suite 1010 in Roselawn. - The nonprofit provides mentorship, encouragement, educational support and life guidance for vulnerable youth. - Thomas describes herself as a “Dream Manager” and says her work is rooted in helping young people recognize their gifts and purpose. - Thomas retired from The Cincinnati Enquirer before stepping into full-time community mentoring. - Thomas earned a Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration from Rust College. - Her background includes decades of experience in leadership, public speaking, mentoring and community engagement. - Thomas has also volunteered in juvenile detention programs and other youth-focused community initiatives. - Camp E.V.E. (Emerging Virtuous Entrepreneurs) serves girls ages 14-16. - Camp E.V.E. teaches business planning, marketing, budgeting, branding, interviewing and public speaking. - Girls who complete Camp E.V.E. earn paid internships. - Never The Less now works with students in Cincinnati Public Schools through partnerships with Woodward Career Technical High School and Frederick Douglass Elementary School. - Those school-based programs focus on emotional wellness, violence prevention and personal development. - The summer expansion will bring programming into community centers operated by the Cincinnati Recreation Commission. - Pawns2Kynzs uses chess as a teaching tool for boys ages 12-17. - The program uses chess to teach strategy, patience, discipline, leadership and the consequences of each decision. - Bridging The Gap supports youth transitioning from detention back into the community. - The reentry program focuses on purpose, mentorship, accountability and positive pathways.

Between the lines: - Thomas is positioning Never The Less as more than a single mentorship program. - The expansion into schools, recreation centers and reentry support suggests a broader attempt to build a year-round safety net for youth. - Her emphasis on faith, integrity and listening to young people reflects a service model shaped by lived experience and community trust. - The organization’s biggest challenge is sustainable funding, along with systemic barriers, detention cycles and emotional trauma among the youth it serves. - Thomas sees opportunity in early intervention, school partnerships, creative arts programming, mentorship and violence prevention.

What’s next: - Never The Less is expected to keep expanding into new community settings and school partnerships. - The organization will likely continue building programs for both girls and boys, including reentry support for youth coming out of detention. - Thomas said the long-term goal is to help young people build confidence, accountability and hope for the future.

The bottom line: - Doris Thomas is turning mentorship into a broader community model for youth support in Cincinnati, with programs designed to help vulnerable children and teens build skills, stability and self-worth.