Black Mentorship Program

Mentoring Black Youth to Build Resilience & Their Professional and Social Networks

Building Healthy Communities: Mentorship and Resilience Project (MRP)

Concordia University of Edmonton (CUE) has partnered with NorQuest College, Boys & Girls Clubs Big Brothers Big Sisters of Edmonton & Area, and CUE’s Black Students Association, to develop Building Healthy Communities, a Black youth (18+) Students Mentorship and Resilience Project.

This one-year outreach project led by Dr. Cecilia Bukutu (CUE) and Dr. Viola Manokore (NorQuest College) aims to:

Develop and facilitate a unique community-based one-on-one social networking and career mentorship program that pairs Black youth (mentees) across Edmonton with volunteer successful Black professional mentors (mentors).
Develop and facilitate interactive workshops aimed at enhancing the student’s (mentees) career potential through building social capital, networking and career development skills.
Provide training to build and enhance students’ resilience to support integration and inclusion into the Canadian workforce.

Black youth do not always have a robust social network or connections that can help them gain meaningful employment and the skills needed to succeed in job searching and the workplace. Black youth also experience racism, prejudice and segregation that impact their wellbeing and opportunities for employment and advancement.

The project plans to address these issues by providing mentorship, networking, career and resilience-building opportunities to develop key skills, self-esteem, a sense of belonging, and ultimately improve career outcomes among a diverse group of Black students of African and Caribbean descent in post-secondary institutes across Edmonton.

Mentors

Black volunteer mentors from a variety of cultural, generational, and professional backgrounds will be paired up with Black post-secondary student. Mentors are individuals who are committed to engaging youth (mentees) and help them to expand their professional community contacts/network.

Mentors will be expected to attend the program training/launch event and the program close event. As a mentor you will meet with your mentee for at least one hour per month for one year to share your expertise and experience in networking, career growth, professional development, and overcoming adversity.

Interested? Sign up as a mentor below:

Mentees

Black youth currently living in Edmonton are eligible to apply for this mentorship program. As a mentee, you will be paired with a Black professional currently working in the field you aspire to join once you complete your studies.

You will meet with your mentor each month. Your mentor will help you build your professional network, plan your career and development, and provide insights on how to overcome adversity. You will be expected to attend the program launch and close event. You will have access to workshops and online networking, career building, and diversity workshops, including:

Growing Your Social Capital from Zero to Hero
Using Volunteerism to Align with Your Ikigai and Unlock Doors
10 Ways to Make Money from the Internet
Diversity, Inclusion, and Equity – An Overview
A Practical Tool for Unpacking Systemic Racism
Interviewing Skills
Employability and Work Culture Competency Skills
Resilience Training

Interested? Sign up as a mentee below:

Workshops & Events

All workshops (in-person and online) are open to the general public. Anyone can participate. If you are interested in receiving workshop information/dates please sign up here:

MRP Launch Event: April 5, 2024

Event: MRP Launch Event
Date: April 5, 2024
Time: 4:45 p.m.
Location: Tegler Student Centre, Concordia University of Edmonton, 7128 Ada Blvd. Edmonton, AB

Thank you to all of the volunteers for your dedication, enthusiasm, and commitment to ensuring the MRP launch event was a success!

Testimonials

“We are thrilled to announce the successful launch of the Mentorship & Resilience Project (MRP)!

The event kicked off with warm greetings from our esteemed Project Leads, Dr. Cecilia Bukutu and Dr. Viola Manokore alongside distinguished guests including the Deputy Provost, CUE: Dr. Andreas Guelzow; Executive Director, Multiculturalism & Anti-Racism, GoA: Ms. Allison Pfeifer; and MLA, Edmonton South (1st Black Female MLA in Alberta): Ms. Rhiannon Hoyle.

Following an insightful overview of the Mentorship & Resilence Project (MRP) by the Project Leads, attendees engaged in Mentee & Mentor meetups, capturing unforgettable moments with group photographs. Breakout Sessions, led by Dr. Sentsetsa Pilane and Ms. Kerry Woodland of BGCBigs (Boys and Girls Clubs Big Brothers Big Sisters of Edmonton), empowered participants on mentorship dynamics. A highlight was the Workshop Session led by Mr. Sahr Saffa, igniting inspiration with his talk on “Using Volunteerism to Align with Your Ikigai and Unlock Doors” – truly remarkable! Closing remarks from the Project Leads concluded the launch, paving the way for refreshments and networking opportunities.

We extend heartfelt gratitude to Concordia University of Edmonton (CUE), Norquest College, BGCBigs, CUE Black Students Association, and the Government of Canada (Project Funder) for their invaluable support in bringing the MRP to fruition. With confidence and enthusiasm, we look forward to a successful execution of the Project!”
-Mayowa Oladipo, MRP Mentor

“Thank you very much for the launch event last Friday. I enjoyed every minute of it. I was happy to meet my mentor & I’m looking forward to a great year full of some wise guidance from him.”
-MRP Mentee

“I am so excited to be part of the Mentorship and Resilience Program as a Mentor to help empower Black youth in Alberta to build resiliency and achieve success. It’s amazing to see the community come together to support and uplift our youth.”
-Dr. Cleopatra Mushonga, MRP Mentor