Outlink

Welcome to Calgary Outlink’s 2SLGBTQ+ Mentorship Program! If you're looking for a little extra support, guidance on navigating life as an 2SLGBTQ+ person, or some community connection, this program may be for you!

 

We have started this program in hopes of bringing community together and offering some support to those that are looking for it. We encourage learning from each other's rich and diverse experiences, and  sometimes the best knowledge comes from lived experiences and community relations. We want you to have the opportunity to share that! We also know that sometimes folks need a little help, support, and positive influence in their lives. Our program is here to make that happen!

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Applications for mentees and mentors are currently closed.

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If you are interested in being a MENTEE:

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• You’re age 13+ (no age limit)

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• You can make a 6 month commitment to being a mentee (January-June 2024)

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• You’re open to meeting someone new and learning from each other

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• You will adhere to any COVID safety protocols in place through Outlink

 

Please note that if you are under the age of 18, you will need a parent or guardian to sign a consent form to participate in the program. If this will be an issue for you, please contact zak@calgaryoutlink.ca.

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If you are interested in being a MENTOR: 

• You’re age 25+

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• You can be a mentor for 6 months (January-June 2024) - if not matched this time you have the option of volunteering in another role at Outlink and/or re-applying in the future​

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• You want to have a positive impact on someone’s life

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• You have good communication skills or are working at it 

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• You consider yourself to be friendly and approachable

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• You’re willing to provide a police check with vulnerable sector search if mentoring a minor (we will cover the cost)

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• You will adhere to any COVID safety protocols in place through Outlink

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• You can partake in a mandatory 30 hour peer support training with multiple sessions throughout October and November 2023

 

*Note about volunteer training:

Sessions will be held on most Tuesday evenings and Saturdays during the day from mid-October to mid-November. Each session is 1-3 hours long and will be a mix of in-person and online sessions. Evening sessions will be 2 hours max.

 

While training sessions are mandatory, we recognize that things may come up that are out of your control. If you miss two sessions, we will follow up with you, and you may be asked to re-evaluate your ability to commit to our volunteer program. Missing more than two sessions may result in you being asked to no longer participate in this round of our training program.

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PROGRAM INFORMATION:

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How it works:

Pairs will be paired and introduced through an Outlink staff. Mentees and mentors will decide how often they want to communicate and/or meet up. They will also decide their own boundaries and what they want their mentorship relationship to look like. Mentors must record time and date of communications with their mentee. 

 

Both the mentee and mentor will have a check-in one month into the program to see how it’s going. After that, the mentor will be required to check in once a month through an online form. Mentees will have another check-in at the three-month mark. When the contract ends, both the mentee and mentor will fill out a feedback form. 

 

What happens if there’s an issue? We will provide a conflict resolution skills handout that can help with addressing conflict. We encourage conflicts to be addressed and resolved between the two of you. If this isn’t possible or you need more help, you can contact Outlink staff. 

 

*We will try our very best but there is no guarantee that you will be paired* 

 

If you are not paired this time, please re-apply in the future!

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If you have any questions, feel free to contact us!

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