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When it comes to overcoming adversity and taking charge of their future, young people need positive role models. 

A new partnership has set the stage to enrich the lives of thousands of young Calgarians by expanding the reach and impact of a well-established mentorship network in our city. 

����APP���� and have signed a Memorandum of Understanding, through which the community organization will gain a new pool of experienced mentors, with ����APP���� alumni playing a key role.

Approximately 2,500 alumni already dedicate their time as mentors through formal mentorship programs, mainly on , a digital mentorship and career-development platform. 

Formal partnership deepens community connections

“MentorLINC is a key connector for alumni and students who are looking for opportunities to give and receive support," says , BFA'16, lead, Alumni Mentorship. "We are excited to work with BBBS to provide even more tools to our alumni mentors, ensuring their impact on the lives of other alumni, as well as potential future ����APP���� students.” 

In formalizing a partnership with BBBS, members of the ����APP���� community have opportunities to gain valuable volunteer and community experience. Students from a range of disciplines will also be able to advance their knowledge and skills through job shadowing and work integrated learning. 

“Forming meaningful partnerships with community organizations is one way ����APP���� deepens our connections and puts community at the centre of all we do, in alignment with our strategic plan,” says , BA'00, MCS'06, ����APP����'s senior director of Partnerships. “When we pool our strengths by working together, it produces greater results for the communities we serve than we could achieve on our own.”  

At a key time in it strategic growth, BBBS Calgary is excited to be partnering with ����APP����, says president and CEO Ken Lima-Coelho, BA'94.

“The alignment with what ����APP���� is striving to achieve in the community through its Ahead of Tomorrow plan perfectly coincides with our ambition to support more young people through mentorship, provide even more meaningful volunteer opportunities to mentors and innovate how we serve by expanding our program offerings. All this makes ����APP���� a truly great match, something we always strive for!" 

Big Deal Card grants access to Dinos games

����APP���� and BBBS Calgary aim to give more young Calgarians a taste of post-secondary life through membership in the BBBS Big Deal Card program. This program offers a range of experiences, including attendance at ����APP���� arts performances and sporting events such as Dinos games.

"I had so much fun — it was my first time seeing a Dino’s game! The energy of the crowd was amazing. I’d definitely love to go again,” a young mentee said recently.

����APP���� will host several mentor/mentee pairs from BBBS at the Dinos’ basketball games on Jan. 10.

With an eye towards the future, the collaboration will also result in research that benefits the youth of tomorrow, including studying the long-term impact of mentoring on developmental and personal relationships, socio-economic factors, behaviour and academic performance.

PhD, director of the in the Faculty of Arts, will lead this project, which is funded by a Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC) Partnership Development Grant.