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Be a mentor

The goal of SOY’s CONNECT Mentorship Program is to empower multiply marginalized queer and trans youth through identifying youths’ personal goals and building meaningful connections with experienced and affirming volunteer mentors to help achieve those goals.

We do this through building relationships with mentors who:

  • support youth in finding a sense of belonging within 2SLGBTQ and other communities important to the youth, such as racialized/cultural communities
  • provide acceptance, guidance, encouragement, and a non-judgmental listening ear in a consistent and intentional way.
  • help youth gain an understanding, level of comfort with and pride in themselves, including in their sexual, gender and racialized identities.
  • share skills, experience and networks to help youth achieve their goals.
  • foster youth’s self-esteem, autonomy and resilience to support their growth and success in achieving their goals.

Programming at SOY CONNECT 

Being a group mentor

SOY looks for 2SLGBTQ Group Mentors with experience in areas such as: budget and meal planning, shopping for groceries, meal preparation, career exploration and networking, career shadowing, job search support, lived experiences of being a newcomer, challenges about connections with family/friends/community back home, homelessness, poverty, sex work, medical transitioning, and more.

Topics may including: life goals, personal stories about coming out or transitioning, histories of 2SLGBTQ communities; rebuilding your life in a new country, community resources, human rights and political issues, housing and homelessness, connecting with local services and groups, developing skills, exploring your identity, coming out to friends and family, dealing with bullying and abuse, help with school, exploring careers, succeeding at work, improving your health and emotional wellbeing, and more.

SOY groups with mentorship support are: Intersections at SOY, BQY, Express and Trans Fusion Crew.

SOY ONE-ON-ONE MENTORSHIP 

One-on-one mentorship involves matching a mentee with a one-on-one mentor to support the mentee in a regular and intentional way. mentorship arrangements are tailored to meet mentees’ specific goals and needs. 

One-on-one mentorship may include meeting a mentee for coffee on a regular basis to discuss a range of topics including: life goals, personal stories about coming out or transitioning, histories of 2SLGBTQ communities; community resources, human rights and political issues, housing and homelessness, connecting with local services and groups, developing skills, exploring identity, coming out to friends and family, dealing with bullying and abuse, help with school, exploring careers, succeeding at work, improving health and emotional wellbeing, and more. It can also mean helping a Mentee connect to communities, activities and events they are interested in by providing information and taking them on outings. 

For mentees who are disconnected or alienated from their families, taking on some of the roles that are typically part of family life such as celebrating religious/cultural holidays, the youth’s birthday and other significant life events. 

Apply to be a SOY One-on-one Mentor through our online form. 

APPLYING TO BE A MENTOR 

Please use our online forms to apply to be a mentor for SOY’s One-on-one Mentorship stream. 

SOY Mentors at Sherbourne Health are required to attend a 16 hour Mentor/Volunteer Training. We request a minimum commitment of one year. 

Thank you for your consideration, but due to the number of applicants, we will only contact folks selected for the SOY Connect mentorship process.