BYMLP MENTEE RECRUITMENT 2026 - Application Deadline February 6, 2026

The Black Youth Mentorship and Leadership Program is a unique, made-in-Alberta innovation to socially and economically empower Black youth, enabling them to contribute meaningfully to the Canadian society. The goal of the program is to improve economic outcomes, community belonging, and leadership skills, as well as foster a positive cultural identity for Black youths.

The program aims to engage Black youth in innovative research and provide them with internship opportunities to maximize their experiential learning and facilitate their upward mobility.

The primary objectives of the program are to:

1.     Increase leadership skills of Black youth.

2.     Increase post-secondary entry and completion rates for Black youth.

3.     Foster community belonging for Black youth.

4.     Create a positive cultural identity for Black youth.

5.     Increase the ability of Black youth to tackle issues of racism and discrimination.

Annually, we thoughtfully select Black youth in Canada to participate in the BYMLP Grade 10 and 11 stream. During the six-week summer program, participants are paired with faculty and community mentors from diverse professional fields.

Eligibility

1. Be a Black youth in Canada who is willing and able to attend the program in person or online.

2. Be available to commit 35 hours per week (Monday to Friday) from July 2 to August 8, 2026 excluding statutory holidays. Please note, that due to the program's intensive nature, participants will not be able to take summer classes or travel during this period

3. Be willing to learn and open to collaborate with others in a team

4. Must be entering grade 11 or 12

5. Must be a Canadian permanent resident or citizen.

6. You must complete this application form.

By participating in the Black Youth Mentorship and Leadership Program, youths can look forward to a transformative journey that equips them with the skills and knowledge to excel in their academic and career pursuits. The program also empowers them to make meaningful contributions to their communities and tackle life's challenges with resilience, confidence, and purpose.

This form is confidential. The information you provide will help us match/address your interest within the program and assign mentors with similar interests in the program.

Gender
 (please include the city that you live in and your postal code in the address)
Current School Grade
  1. Describe your personal and educational background
  2. What are your past non-academic involvement? (for example work experiences, school co-curricular activities, club involvement, sports, volunteer activities etc.)
  3. What are your career goals? What would you like to achieve in the next 5 years?
  4. What challenges have you experienced in the past in meeting your education and career goals and how have you overcome them?
  5. Why would you like to attend the Black Youth Mentorship and Leadership Program?
  6. In what ways will attending the Black Youth Mentorship and Leadership Program help you to meet your career goals? 

One file only.
10 MB limit.
Allowed types: gif, jpg, jpeg, png, bmp, eps, tif, pict, psd, txt, rtf, odf, pdf, doc, docx, ppt, pptx, xls, xlsx, xml, mp3.
One file only.
10 MB limit.
Allowed types: gif, jpg, jpeg, png, bmp, eps, tif, pict, psd, txt, rtf, odf, pdf, doc, docx, ppt, pptx, xls, xlsx, xml, mp3.
Are you willing to attend a 15 to 30 minute interview (via Zoom) with the program team if short-listed?
Are you willing to participate in an evaluation process or engage in research activities throughout the program?
As part of our mentorship program, we occasionally capture photos for use on our website and in our reports to highlight participant experiences. Please indicate whether you consent to having your photos taken during the six-week program.

By signing this form, you indicate that this form has been completed by you (a Black high school youth), 

By signing this form, you indicate that you identify as a Black youth and you are in Grade 10 or 11, 

By signing this form, you indicate you are available full-time over six weeks from July 2 to August 8, 2026, to actively participate in the Black Youth Mentorship and Leadership Program., 

By signing this form, you indicate you already have your parent’s approval to be a part of this program. 

It is expected that you will actively participate in the program and contribute to the evaluation of the project.

Sign above

Collection of personal information
Your personal information is collected under the authority of section 33(c) of the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act. If you have any questions about the collection or use of this information, please visit our Access to Information page.