Winter 2024 Mentorship Program - Protégé Registration

interVivos is pleased to announce our Winter 2024 Mentorship Program that launches on Tuesday, December from 5:30 to 9:00 pm at Epic Market. This six-month program runs from January to June 2025.

Program Overview:

The Winter 2024 Mentorship Program amplifies the voices of Black, Indigenous, and People of Colour (BIPOC) volunteer mentors and showcases the impressive work they’re doing in our communities. We’re highlighting BIPOC mentors because it provides an opportunity to empower the next generation of BIPOC leaders. By creating safe spaces for sharing experiences in a supportive environment, mentors and protégés will grow as trusted, inspired and informed leaders.

Guided by diversity and inclusion principles, interVivos provides BIPOC protégés with the opportunity to connect and match with successful BIPOC mentors with varied careers, backgrounds and perspectives. We’re dedicated to creating an environment that celebrates diversity and encourages interVivos protégés to select mentors from different cultural, ethnic and language backgrounds as potential matches. Protégés from all backgrounds are encouraged to register. interVivos is a nonpartisan organization and we support one another by creating a sense of belonging for all.

A $65 fee + eventbrite fees for protégés supports our non-profit initiatives, and we also offer complimentary spots for local non-profit organizations.

Launch Overview:

Twelve mentors will meet twelve protégés at our in-person program launch to determine who is the best for them during the program. Here are some important launch details:

• Date: Tuesday, December 3, 2024
• Time: 5:30-9 pm
• Location: Epic Market (201, 8115 Gateway Blvd.)
• Accessibility: Please let us know if you have questions.
• Our launch emcee is Nathan Ip, MLA for Edmonton-South West
• A light snack will be provided. Additional food and drinks are available for purchase. Feel free to arrive early or stay after to enjoy a full meal at your own expense.
• The launch will include a series of speed-rotations, where mentors and protégés in pairs will discuss their goals and expectations in short 7-minute conversations.
• Participants rank their choices at the end of the evening on a Google form sent via email after the launch, and interVivos makes the final matches in mid-December.

Winter 2024 Program Mentors:

• Ajibola (Jibs) Adigun (he/they), Project Lead at AI Global South Summit Org
• Andrés Moreno (they/them), Actor, Director, Producer, and Outreach Coordinator at Theatre Alberta, Azimuth Theatre and Self-Employed
• CK Dhaliwal (he/him), Business Development Specialist, at Edmonton Screen Industries Office
• Erick Estrada (he/him), Executive Director at Alberta Avenue Business Association
• Iris Dias (she/her), Associate Vice President (AVP), Marketing & Communications, at Alberta Innovates
• Jinting Zhao (she/her), Director, Labour Force Policy, at Government of Alberta and Strategy/ Founder, at SHE-Q Audio
• Kayla Atkey (she/her), Strategic Planning Analyst - Evaluation Specialist at Edmonton Police Service
• Kyra Brown (she/her), Indigenous Relations Advisor at Edmonton Arts Council
• Soni Dasmohapatra (she/her), Assistant Professor at MacEwan University
• Stephanie Chai (she/her), Manager, Regional Growth Planning at Edmonton Metropolitan Region Board
• Steven Lin (he/him), Senior Manager of Student Services, at University of Alberta Students' Union

• Tamreen Arif (she/her), Senior Policy Advisor at Canadian Digital Service and Learning Design Lead at You Need This Box

Additional Details:

Our organization provides you with resources and support to help you with the launch and the 6-month program, including a mandatory Zoom orientation scheduled for two hours on Tuesday, November 26, 6:00-8:00 pm. Your meeting link will be emailed to you shortly after you register.

After you register, please email us a high-resolution, professional, and colour photo of yourself by Sunday, November 24, 2024, at connect@intervivos.ca. The photo doesn’t need to be a professional headshot, but please avoid selfies or passport photos. It will be used alongside your biography in the launch playbill for program participants.

Testimonials:

• "From the beginning, we cultivated a safe and trusting relationship where we could openly share experiences from both our personal and professional lives as BIPOC. My mentor provided support in so many areas—not only sharing their expertise but also connecting me with their network when they thought it might benefit me. I'm so glad I took the step to join this program."
• "The interVivos Mentorship Program was an excellent opportunity to network and connect with outstanding leaders in the community. Cultivating a close relationship with a community leader over six months is such a privilege. I feel grateful, and I will hold close all of the lessons learned as I move forward in my personal and professional worlds."
• "I appreciate the program's flexible structure regarding letting the partnership grow organically and setting a working style that fits both the protégés and the mentor. "
• "I am truly inspired by the BIPOC interVivos mentorship program. Initiatives like these are often the first step toward fostering meaningful change and leadership opportunities for BIPOC communities. Being able to connect with incredible leaders from diverse backgrounds who bring a wealth of lived experiences has been invaluable. Edmonton is truly a hub of social innovation, and interVivos plays a vital role in this landscape."
• "Really impressed with how this process rolled out and the thought and intention behind it. It was great to see the board—already a very diverse group of young women—driven to take diversity and inclusion training to ensure the program addresses any potential power imbalances. I’ve personally been in networking and mentorship events/programs where mentors grossly abused their position given the stage and power dynamics that were intentionally set up to be highly imbalanced. Not once did I feel uncomfortable; everyone, whether mentors or protégés, was genuinely valued and appreciated."

Questions?

Check out our FAQs, or send us an email at connect@intervivos.ca.

Stay Connected:

Be sure to check us out on social media (Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and X) to stay up to date on all things interVivos and find out more about our mentors. You can also join our mailing list to stay connected.

Winter 2024 Program Sponsors:

Thank you to our sponsors:

• Epic Market
• pipikwan pêhtâkwan
• Token Bitters
• Soni Dasmohapatra
• Norwex
• Norwood Dental Centre
• Ruby Gorgeous Salon
• Amba Jewellers
• Lucky Bubs Pets
• Nathan Ip
• The Common

More to come...