API Mentors
Asian & Pacific Islander Women's Mentor Program
Introduction
The API Women's Mentor Program is a project of the Asian Pacific Student Programs office, 787-7272. This program is coordinated by APSP Asst. Director Arlene V. Fader.
The program provides positive examples of Asian and Pacific Islander women, and equips young women with skills in communication, assertiveness, self-confidence, and leadership. In dealing with racism, sexism, stereotyping, gender role expectations, and family obligations, mentors share their insight and skills with UCR students. They share resources and provide advice on academic interest and careers. Students learn from the mentors' experiences and life stories.
Mission
To provide a network of resources and support for UCR's Asian and Pacific Islander women students as they move forward in their educational and professional endeavors.
Goals
- Link students, alumni, faculty, staff and community members through events and mentoring. From our efforts we build a stronger Asian and Pacific Islander community at the University of California, Riverside.
- Provide positive role models to share their life stories and experiences to equip UCR women students with skills in communication, assertiveness, self-confidence, and leadership.
- Advocate for Asian and Pacific Islander issues at UCR and in the community. Through our events, this program allows the opportunity for UCR women students to voice their concerns about racism, sexism, stereotyping, gender role expectations, and family obligations.
- Support Asian and Pacific Islander women students in their struggles to attain their short and long-term goals. Through interaction and dialogue with Asian and Pacific Islander women role models, Asian and Pacific Islander UCR women students will be better prepared to confront future challenges.
Why API women specific?
We must recognize the persisting inequities facing Asian and Pacific Islander women in the workplace and in the community. The Asian and Pacific Islander Women's Mentor Program provides participants with opportunities to prepare themselves for greater success by matching them with Asian and Pacific Islander women working in a variety of professions who can mentor and guide them in their personal and professional growth. Through on-going discussions and meetings, mentors and mentees work together to identify challenges and develop strategies for maximizing educational and professional opportunities for UCR's Asian and Pacific Islander women students.
What is mentoring?
Mentoring - from the Greek word meaning enduring - is defined as a sustained relationship between a youth and adult. Through continued involvement, the adult offers support, guidance, and assistance as the younger person goes through a difficult period or faces new challenges. The two types of mentoring are natural mentoring and planned mentoring. Natural mentoring occurs through friendship, collegiality, teaching, coaching, and counseling. In contrast, planned mentoring occurs through structured programs in which mentors and mentees are selected and matched through formal processes.
What are some benefits?
Mentors will have the opportunity to be a positive role model as well as be a positive influence to help mentees endure social, academic, career, and/or personal crises. There will be opportunities to network with other mentors who are at different stages in their life and professional career. This is your opportunity to give back to the community by sharing the wisdom you have gained through experience. Grow and learn yourselves!
Mentees will have the chance to learn more about the career world and also what to expect in terms of how women are treated and how to deal with these issues. Learn skills in communication, assertiveness, self-confidence, and leadership. Through on-going relationships, you can develop closer bonds so you will not only gain a friend, but a mentor and confidant.
Despite improvements over the past years to the status of women in the workforce, women continue to be under-represented at the senior levels of organizations. Mentoring may be one way to give women similar advantages to men in progressing their careers. An effective mentoring program can be a way to break this barrier down.
What are some limitations?
- Time constraint - please understand the mentor is a working professional who may have a family and is demonstrating desire to help by volunteering to be a mentor.
- Balance - please understand there may be difficulty in establishing a balance between the professional and personal aspects of the mentoring relationship and both mentor and mentee must work together.
- Unrealistic demands - please understand this program is designed to help the UCR community and the API community by providing a network of resources and support. Unrealistic demands can create tension and unnecessary pressure.