Collective Identity Mentoring

TO GATHER A GROUP OF NO MORE THAN TEN STUDENTS WHO WILL ADVANCE TOGETHER THROUGH THE TWO-YEAR PROGRAM. EACH GROUP WILL CONSIST OF 10 STUDENTS, WITH NO MORE THAN FOUR STUDENTS PER PROGRAM, PER YEAR. MEETING ONCE A MONTH, THE YOUTH CONVENE IN A FACILITATED SAFE SPACE TO HAVE INFORMAL AND PRIVATE DISCUSSIONS REGARDING TOPICS AND ISSUES SPECIFIC TO THEM AND THEIR EXPERIENCES. ALL STUDENTS WILL TOUCH UPON THE BASICS SKILLS OF TIME MANAGEMENT, COMMUNICATION, BOUNDARIES, NUTRITION AND MORE. TO KEEP STUDENTS THINKING ABOUT CONFAB DISCUSSION TOPICS, THE MENTORS WILL RECEIVE COPIES OF THE SYLLABUS AND UPDATE THE STUDENTS MID-MONTH WITH PLAYLISTS, BOOKS, ARTICLES, AND MORE TO MAINTAIN ENGAGEMENT OUTSIDE OF THE SCHEDULED CONFABS. WE WILL ALSO CREATE A "SLACK OR A SIMILAR ACCOUNT THAT WILL ALLOW EACH STUDENT TO COMMUNICATE ELECTRONICALLY AS A STUDENT OUTSIDE OF SOCIAL MEDIA. DOING SO WILL PROVIDE THEM A SAFE SPACE TO DISCUSS "IN THE MOMENT" HAPPENINGS AS A GROUP WHEN THEY HAVE ENCOUNTERED IMPLICIT BIAS, RACISM, MICROAGGRESSIONS, AND THE LIKE. EVERY OTHER MONTH, WE WILL HAVE CULTURALLY ENRICHING EXCURSIONS TO ENCOURAGE YOUNG BLACK WOMEN TO OPEN THEMSELVES UP TO NEW INTERESTS AND OPPORTUNITIES.