简体中文
This article originally appeared on News & Stories.
For organizations dedicated to helping Black students and professionals navigate their careers, volunteer mentors are invaluable.
“Volunteer mentors are crucial to the work that PREP Academy carries out,” said Ashley Hill, who founded the organization in Halifax after struggling through first year of university without the benefit of a mentor.
Today, PREP Academy inspires and prepares dozens of Black Nova Scotian high school students for college, university and beyond.
“Seeing mentors who share similar cultural or racial backgrounds provides Black youth with role models who can inspire confidence and broaden their vision of what is possible,” said Hill.
The RBC Foundation provides financial support to organizations like PREP Academy across the country. Yet what makes these partnerships truly special are the RBCers who volunteer their own time as mentors and understand the unique conditions often faced by those of African descent.
“I really enjoyed my PREP Academy Micro-Internship experience of mentoring Jayke, a 14-year-old who was interested in business but didn’t have a lot of context,” said Christofer Peters, an assistant branch manager with RBC in Halifax. “It really opened my eyes to how we can develop our youth within the Black community. Giving them exposure to things they probably have never experienced before really helps with confidence. Even little things, like how to dress at a place of work, and not shying away from asking questions, can really make a difference.”
The PREP Academy in Halifax provides meaningful connections for Black Nova Scotian high school students like Jayke (right), by pairing them with career mentors like Christofer Peters (left)
This year PREP Academy is seeking Black career mentors in Renewable Energy, Biofuels & Transportation, and Green Architecture to help expose students to careers in sustainability.
“I would encourage anyone that is looking to take on a mentorship role within this community to be open-minded,” said Peters. “The mentees come from all walks of life, so a little patience is important as they could be looking for advice on all kinds of different things. It’s fine to not know about a particular topic. We can always point them to another individual that may have the answer.”
According to Yechenu Audu, who has spent years volunteering her time in Canada’s Prairie region through organizations like Africa Centre in Manitoba, mentorship in the Black community is all about trust.
“Establishing trust is important when supporting people in the Black community, as they tend to have different experiences that many do not relate to,” said Audu who, along with other employees from RBC volunteer at their events year-round. Audu served as a panelist, speaker, and mentor at local Africa Centre events. “Along with trust comes a real sense of belonging.”
Yechenu Audu at the first ever HerWake conference held in Winnipeg, providing networking opportunities for local Black entrepreneurs. “My experience was a mentor with Africa Centre has been life changing.”
While the RBC partnership with Africa Centre gives Audu the chance to mentor and support dozens of participants from her community, her mentorship opportunities really expanded when Africa Centre brought the HerWake Conference to Winnipeg for the first time ever. HerWake is a free full day conference for Black women entrepreneurs.
“Events like HerWake Conference really expand the opportunities for mentors and mentees to get involved,” said Audu. “It’s a very inclusive and professional environment.”
While organizations like PREP Academy and HerWake provide structured mentorship opportunities, experienced mentors like Alexandria Onyedika, an RBC relationship manager in Edmonton, say informal connections are just as important as more formal relationships.
When Onyedika arrived in Edmonton from Nigeria eleven years ago, she received a helping hand at a critical time.
“Someone gave me a chance, letting me bring my kids along for a job interview, and I’ll never forget that,” said Onyedika. “It’s the little moments. So I am always ready to be a mentor, even if it’s just one conversation or what seems like a small bit of advice, as you never know how meaningful it could be to someone.”
Through her work with RBC, Onyedika collaborates with dozens of organizations that support newcomers with mentorship and guidance.
Alexandria Onyedika (2nd from right) in her Edmonton community. “Why not put yourself out there and be that hope and inspiration for that next person who might not know where to or how to start?”
“I’ve worked with dozens of mentees through the years,” said Onyedika. “Some in a structured way, like those I’ve met through the RBC Foundation’s partnership with groups like the Edmonton Region Immigrant Employment Counsel, but many many more on my own time in an unstructured way. In the community. Or through a friend. It’s all important.”
For Onyedika, making herself available as a mentor is particularly relevant with racialized groups.
“If you are a Black professional, you may not realize how many people who look like you are wondering how you got to where you are. Why not put yourself out there and be that source of hope and inspiration for someone who doesn’t know where or how to start,” said Onyedika. “It’s incredibly fulfilling to know that, through mentorship, someone is getting the help they need to succeed.”
This article is intended as general information only and is not to be relied upon as constituting legal, financial or other professional advice. A professional advisor should be consulted regarding your specific situation. Information presented is believed to be factual and up-to-date but we do not guarantee its accuracy and it should not be regarded as a complete analysis of the subjects discussed. All expressions of opinion reflect the judgment of the authors as of the date of publication and are subject to change. No endorsement of any third parties or their advice, opinions, information, products or services is expressly given or implied by Royal Bank of Canada or any of its affiliates.