Female industry members can now apply for the Ag Women’s Network (AWN) 2019 Mentorship Program.
“The Ag Women's Network Mentorship program was built specifically for women in the Ontario agriculture industry. It was designed to be individually focused, inclusive and accessible,” Jennifer Christie, AWN chairperson, told Farms.com today.
The program will match “ten mentee and mentors together in an eight-month partnership starting in March,” today’s AWN release said.
The mentorship program aims to support women in their various roles in the province’s ag industry to:
• “Celebrate the diversity of sectors, roles, and experiences of women in agriculture.
• “Build authentic relationships and support upward mentorship.
• “Be responsive to our grassroots membership and adaptable for future growth.
• “Promote the values of camaraderie, inclusion, accessibility, connection, confidentiality and constructive dialogue,” the release said.
Once matched, participating mentors and mentees will meet both in-person and virtually. Mentees will record their goals on a road map document and receive support and guidance from their mentors.
Participants from last year’s pilot provided feedback to enhance this year’s program, Joan Craig, team lead of the AWN Mentorship Program, said in the release.
“Their input has helped us evolve the Mentorship Program and we look forward to engaging more participants in 2019,” she said.
This year, for example, participants can build their networking skills by meeting with other participants at two in-person events.
Last year’s participants also emphasized the need for this program.
“Since we recognize (that) the need for mentorship does not go away as women advance in their careers, and there is equal value in upward mentorship, mentee applications are open to any woman in any role or stage of her career in agriculture,” Christie said.
Men and women are encouraged to apply to be program mentors. Mentees and mentors can begin applying for the program today, with applications due Feb. 1.
For more information about the AWN Mentorship Program, or to apply, click
here.
For questions related to the program, please email mentorship@agwomensnetwork.com.
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