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A mentor can be one of the greatest accelerants to a person’s professional and personal growth. There will always be classes you can take to learn a new skill, networking events to attend to meet others with the same goals, and life coaches to help you get organized. But a mentor is just on another level. They have learned everything that online class has to teach you because they’ve lived it. They understand exactly what day-to-day life is like for someone with your goals or in your position; they won’t just tell you where to look for opportunities – they’ll personally refer you for them.
A mentor is invaluable to all women, but mentorships for Black women and girls are especially important because they face specific challenges and experiences that are unique to them. Mentors can provide the essential wisdom, encouragement, empathy and network that a Black woman or girl needs to advance personally and professionally. So in honor of National Mentoring Day, here are mentorship programs specifically designed for Black women and girls.
Black Girls In Tech
Website: Blackgirlsintech.org
https://www.instagram.com/p/Cikm2PLtoHQ/?hl=en
Black Girls In Tech pairs Black women and girls in every stage of their tech journey – from students to professionals – with a mentor who can help them with their professional and personal development. Mentors and mentees engage in regular check-ins, work together to break down goals into actionable steps, work on interview and resume preparation and discuss other helpful resources. Mentees are placed with the most appropriate mentor for their specific area of interest and current progress in their career.
Sista Circle Mentorship
Website: CohortSistas.com
Sista Circle Mentorship is designed specifically for Black women and non-binary doctoral students. It works to carefully match these students with mentors who have already earned their doctorate and understand exactly what that journey looks like for a Black or non-binary woman. It’s also about networking and finding your people who will support you for years to come, which is why the program works by pairing three to four mentees with one mentor. Mentees still get that dedicated attention from the mentor, but can also form bonds with the other mentees that they’ll cherish for life after getting their doctorate. The program provides trainings and workshops on every element of succeeding in a doctorate program, including those that cover health, finances, and personal development.
Black Girl Writers
Website: Blackgirlwriters.org
The Black Girl Writers mentorship program is a free program that pairs Black women writers with established professionals from bestselling authors to literary agents. The program puts on regular online workshops covering all aspects of writing from the actual craft to career development. Black Girl Writers is dedicated to ending the racial disparity in the publishing world and welcomes writers at every phase of their journey – from those just getting into it to those with a manuscript ready to be sent out – to apply.
Gwen S. Cherry Black Women Lawyers Association
Website: Gwcbwla.org
The GSCBWLA was designed to address the legal, social, economic, and political needs of the Black community, as well as provide career development assistance to Black women lawyers. The group provides services that benefit its members and the Black community, including free neighborhood legal clinics and educational seminars for Black law students. Because of its focus both on helping Black women lawyers pass the Bar exam as well as develop their legal careers and providing legal aid to the Black community, the GSCBWLA accepts adult and youth mentees.
Black Women Physicians
Website: Blackwomenphysicians.org
The Black Women Physicians mentoring program is dedicated to advancing the education and careers of Black women who are already physicians, who are in training or who are pre-med undergraduates. The group puts on events that benefit those within it, as well as the Black community at large. It raises funds for scholarships for Black female medical students who have displayed excellence and puts on workshops aimed at educating the Black community on health issues that disproportionately affect them.
Black Career Women’s Network
Website: Bcwnetwork.com
The BCWN is a national network devoted to helping Black women move forward in their careers in a variety of industries. Their roster of mentors contains a diverse group of Black women from man fields, at different levels of their careers and with different expertise. They regularly host career management workshops where women learn how to expand their network, increase their visibility, and more. Additionally, they offer their Career Smarts 365 program – a group coaching program that consists of workbooks, strategizing calls, and access to a “private tribe.”
