2024

Forward Leadership Program Mentorship

Thank you for your interest in API Forward Foundation’s Forward Leadership Program for college students.

The Forward Leadership Program aims to inspire, motivate and empower undergraduate college students to develop their leadership potential by participating in a team competition with a community partner for varying levels of scholarship awards. Through three and half months of mentorship, collaboration and leadership training, we hope to instill confidence, integrity, knowledge, experience, connection and a great understanding of the importance of equity practice. Our program hopes to inspire participants to lead change for Asians, Pacific Islanders and others.

A mentor with the Forward Leadership Program is a caring, responsible adult volunteer who serves as a trusted friend and guide to Scholar(s) who have been accepted to the Forward Leadership Program. A mentor helps to ensure that the Scholars develop important academic and life skills, and are exposed to new opportunities. A mentor also helps to provide a wide array of resources and support to graduate the program with added knowledge of the professional environment and new connection to the workforce.

Please submit your interest by Saturday, November 25, 2023.

Submit Today

Interested in sponsoring the Forward Leadership Program? Reach out to us at communications@apiforward.org!

Thank you for your interest in API Forward Foundation’s Forward Leadership Program for college students. The program aims to inspire, motivate and empower undergraduate college students to develop their leadership potential.

Through three and half months of mentorship, collaboration and leadership training, we hope to instill confidence, integrity, knowledge, experience, connection and greater understanding of the importance of equity practice. Our program seeks to inspire participants to lead change for Asians, Pacific Islanders and others.

Applications for Forward Leadership Program 2022 are now closed. Applications for 2023 are coming soon!

Mentorship Overview

Benefits of This Program for Scholars:

  • Opportunity to engage in diversity, inclusion and equity work in the Oregon and southwest Washington.
  • Opportunity to participate in hands-on leadership training.
  • Opportunity to build relationship with local government, private industries, and/or communities that are not offered in regular classes.

Mentor Essential Functions and Responsibilities:

  • Commit to spending at least three months in a professional relationship with a student.
  • Communicate with their Scholars as a team bi-weekly.
  • Honor, all commitments made to the Scholars and other mentors.
  • Be respectful of the Scholar’s time, opinions, and decision-making, and in return, provide constructive criticism to help Scholars to advance.
  • Serve as a positive role model by modeling desirable behaviors—e.g. patience, tolerance, and reflective listening.
  • Be comfortable and able to establish appropriate boundaries with the Scholars.
  • Be encouraging and supportive of the Scholars.
  • Help the Scholar develop a milestone plan for completing their project.

Expectations

  1. Attend a half-day orientation, tenatively scheduled for Saturday, January 27, 2024
  2. Check-in with the program staff once a month.
  3. Complete evaluation surveys as requested by staff.
  4. Recognize role as a mandated reporter and report any problematic issues.
  5. Be available for the final presentation with their project team in late April.
  6. Attend the API Forward Gala in May 2024, API Heritage Month.

Process

To be considered, potential mentors must meet the following eligibility requirements:

  • Be 25 years of age
  • Have professional experience
  • Submit the Mentor Interest Form on page 3
  • Submit a resume to provide us more information to appropriately match your experience to our Scholars and project

Deadline: Saturday, November 25, 2023 (by 11:59 p.m. Pacific Standard Time.)

Program Timeline:

We do our best to pair mentors with Scholars based on mentor’s experience and this year’s project needs. Mentors will be selected by the API Forward Board of Directors and notified by December 15, 2023 of their selection for the program.

The Forward Leadership Program runs from January-April 2024.

Project presentations will take place in late-April 2024 on a mutally-agreed upon date. Winners will be announced at the annual May Gala celebrating API Forward’s 10th Anniversary (date TBD).

 

Submit Today

Please submit your interest by November 25, 2023, 11:59 p.m. PST.

Applications for the 2022 Forward Leadership Program are now closed.