BYMLP MENTOR RECRUITMENT 2024 - Application Deadline April 5, 2024

The Black Youth Mentorship and Leadership Program is a unique, made-in-Alberta initiative 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 recruit faculty members from the University of Calgary and the University of Alberta, where the BYMLP usually holds in-person, to serve as mentors for these youths. Faculty mentors, alongside community mentors who are professionals from diverse fields, are dedicated to mentoring these youths. Mentors are required to do the following:

1.     Dedicate at least 1 hour weekly, or more, to provide mentorship for these youths for a period of 6 weeks during the summer.

2.     Mentors are expected to have a research project (for faculty mentors) or skill(s) (for community mentors) they want the students to work on or learn during the six-week period.

3.     Mentors will provide opportunities for the youths to achieve the aims of the BYMLP.

Please note that mentors are not paid for mentoring these youths, but the youths are paid to participate in the program and dedicate a minimum of 6 hours daily to work on various projects within the 6 weeks period, as well as attend seminars and workshops that will be organized centrally.

 

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

Salutation / Designation
City of Residence
Preferred mentorship Location
Highest level of education completed
Are you 18 years old or older?
What racial group do you identify with (check all that apply)

All mentees are required to complete a project as part of their training. We require two types of Mentors.

(1) Mentors who will provide a project for mentees to engage with and work on for the duration of the program (for up to 4 days a week from July 3 to August 11, 2024).

(2) Mentors who will have a more hands off approach in terms of project work, but can meet with a mentee for 1 hour a week for one-to-one mentorship.      

In the past, mentees have worked on projects such as developing a registry of different services and supports available for Black families, assisting with literature reviews, data collection, data cleaning, data analysis, and organizing/participating in conversation cafes.

How would you like to work?
The Black Youth Mentorship Program will be providing stipend to Black youths participating in our program. However, our funding is limited. To increase the number of youths benefiting from our mentorship program, we are open to accepting matching funds from researchers at the University of Alberta or University of Calgary, who are able to within their current research funding. If you are a researcher at the University of Alberta or University of Calgary do you have funding to support a Black high school youth summer student working within your research program?
Which of these languages do you speak and understand (select all that apply)
If public health measures allow, and the University of Alberta and/or University of Calgary allows in-person mentorship, would you be able to meet with youths in-person in Edmonton/Calgary?
How did you hear about the BYMLP mentor opportunity?
By signing this form, I indicate that I have read and understood the time commitment required from mentors
By signing this form, I indicate that I understand my role as a mentor in the BYMLP
By signing this form, I indicate that I have access to a reliable internet service and will be able to join Zoom meetings
By signing this form, I indicate that I am willing to apply for a Vulnerable Sector Police Information Check (BYMLP will cover the cost)
By signing this form, I indicate that I am agreeing to spend at least 1 hour per week meeting with my mentee (s) from July to August 2024
Sign above

Thank you for completing this application. Please note that we have limited funding and capacity, thus we will only select mentors based on our funding for the mentees and our capacity. However, all applicants will be communicated on the outcome of this application.

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.