Mentoring Programs
Project Social Justice
WHAT IS PROJECT SOCIAL JUSTICE?
Project Social Justice (PSJ) is a nine-month mentoring program for individuals interested in becoming effective social change agents. The vision of the program is to develop diverse leaders dedicated to creating a welcoming and inclusive society. Participants will be expected to attend activities, meet independently, engage in authentic conversations, and provide reflections throughout the experience. Mentees will create a culminating personal growth and social justice project. It is our hope that mentors and mentees will build meaningful relationships with one another and within the cohort of participants. The program begins during the Fall 2013 term and ends Spring 2014.
Undergraduate and graduate students are eligible to apply to be a mentee. Through Project Social Justice, as a mentee, you will be able to:
- Describe and examine your dimensions of identity
- Increase awareness and skills around issues of social justice education
- Lead with reflection and purpose
- Create a project that applies your knowledge and growth
Staff, professional faculty, teaching faculty, and graduate students, can apply to be a mentor. As mentors, you will:
- Describe and examine your dimensions of identity
- Increase awareness and skills around issues of social justice education
- Mentor with reflection and purpose
- Support your mentee through the year-long process
As life-long learners what we know for sure is that we are all a work in progress. For this reason, the program is process oriented and developmental in nature. Each quarter will build on the previous one. Fall quarter is about gaining foundational knowledge and common ground. Winter quarter is designed to identify areas for growth and strengthen skills sets. During the Spring quarter mentees will execute their projects. Upon completion of the program mentees will receive a certificate of participation at the culminating event.
While this is a free program for enrolled students and campus faculty and staff, spaces are limited. See the following information to apply.
FRAMEWORK
Adams, Bell, and Griffin (1997) define social justice as both a process and a goal. “The goal of social justice is full and equal participation of all groups in a society that is mutually shaped to meet their needs. Social justice includes a vision of society in which the distribution of resources is equitable and all members are physically and psychologically safe and secure.”
PSJ has adopted this framework and utilizes their books, Teaching and Readings for Diversity and Social Justice to inform the curriculum.
As a program, we value:
- Experiential learning
- Inclusive and braver spaces
- Self-reflection and personal growth
- Positive social change
- Building community
INSTITUTES
Mentors and mentees are required to attend one institute per quarter. Institutes will be held on Fridays. These half-day and/or day-long experiences will be where the bulk of the learning and networking take place. Institutes will be learning labs for participants to engage in critical dialogue and skills building. Institute topics may include: identity development, ally development, courageous conversations, power, privilege, oppression, border identities, creating safer zones, intersectionality, liberation, and global interdependence.
MENTORSHIP-INDIVIDUAL MEETINGS
To continue the reflective and personal growth work initiated in the Institutes, mentors and mentees will meet bi-weekly the first quarter or at the determined agreement between the mentor-mentee pair.
MENTEE-PROJECTS
The goal of the project is to support you in creating and implementing a small project that represents your own growth in a specific social justice issue area. Projects may include: short video project, an artistic presentation, performance piece, or something of your own creation. This is an opportunity for you as a mentee to “dig deep” and investigate your process and growth as a social change agent. It is intended to both speak from your heart and inspire others to infuse a social justice lens in their own lives. Select projects will be presented at the culminating event, Sharing Project Social Justice, during the Spring term.
MENTOR TRAINING
Accepted mentors will attend a training to develop their mentoring skills and build upon their existing knowledge and experience with social justice education.
WORKSHOPS
Workshops will be held periodically throughout the academic year. Mentees must attend one workshop per quarter. We highly encourage attendance, though it is at the discretion of the mentor-mentee pair to attend based on availability and interest. Workshops topics may include: social justice issue areas (media justice, environmental justice, etc…), skills building (communication, leadership, etc…), or career and personal development.
LEADERSHIP SUPPORT
Best practices in mentoring programs emphasize skill development and leadership support to further deepen participants’ learning. We are committed to providing these to you through an occasional newsletter to provide reflective exercises, stories from cohort individuals, practical resources; and individual meetings with the program staff, as needed.
APPLICATION PROCESS
Participation in Project Social Justice beginning requires a successful application. Completed applications are due Thursday, May 23, 2013. Mentee candidates will be notified of their acceptance by Friday, May 31, 2013. Mentors will be notified of their acceptance on a rolling basis, as it is our intention to match mentees and mentors with thought and care. The program begins during the Fall 2013 term and finishes Spring 2014.
Please note: applications must be completed in one sitting. Once you enter information online information cannot be saved. Attached to this url are the open-ended questions just in case you would like to prepare beforehand.
(for consideration, click here to apply)
THE IDEAL PARTICIPANT
We are seeking a group of undergraduate and graduate students that are diverse and balanced with regard to gender, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, class, geographic region, and experience with social justice issues. In addition to the importance of creating a diverse group, we are looking for mentees who:
- Will take responsibility for their development
- Can set goals and follow through
- Receive feedback positively and be open-minded
- Are willing to take risks
- Are self-reflective
Applicants must be in good academic standing with a minimum 2.5 GPA required.
Staff, graduate students, and professional and teaching faculty can apply to be a mentor. The ideal mentor will have:
- Some experience or background with understanding with issues of social justice (power, privilege, oppression, intersectionality, ally-development, etc.), and can identify their personal areas of strength & opportunities for growth
- Effective rapport building, listening, and communication skills
- An ability to be sensitive to the needs of others
- An ability to give and receive feedback
- A commitment to being open and self-reflective
- Time to engage in the program’s activities
For specific information, contact Charlene Martinez, Program Director at Charlene.Martinez@oregonstate.edu.