Program currently seeks mentors and mentees for 2015 session
December 2015 (Boston, MA) — For young people, navigating the many pathways of life can be a challenge. LGBTQ youth of color in particular encounter even more obstacles in their journeys, given their intersecting identities. As youth evolve into adults, it’s important that they have supportive, experienced adults to point them in the right direction.
Boston-based LGBTQ organization, the Hispanic Black Gay Coalition (HBGC) is helping to pave the way for Black and Latin@ LGBTQ youth through its Mentorship Program. The HBGC Mentorship Program pairs LGBTQ professionals of color with LGBTQ students of color to help youth and young adults develop a positive LGBTQ identity, successfully adapt to college or professional life, and set and achieve personal, social, academic, career, and life goals.
Launched in 2010, the HBGC Mentorship Program initially started through a partnership with MIT’s Rainbow Lounge, a support network and meeting space for the university’s LGBTQ communnity. In 2011, the program expanded beyond MIT students to serve any youth of color between the ages of 16-21 looking for guidance from an LGBTQ mentor of color. Last year, HBGC entered a partnership with Mass Mentoring for further support in ensuring program participants are supported and successful in meeting goals established during the program.
The HBGC Mentorship Program is currently enrolling mentors and mentees for the next cycle of its program that will begin in February 2015. Mentors are required to meet with their mentee at least once a month over 6 months to works towards goals set during the program’s orientation. Mentees are also strongly encouraged to attend regularly planned social outings and professional development workshops organized for all program participants.
Those interested in participating in the program as either a mentor or mentee can contact visit hbgc-boston.org to learn more about program requirements and download an application. The application deadline for both mentors and mentees is January 15, 2015.
