Where it started
The Indiana Undocumented Youth Alliance (IUYA) recognized a lack of much-needed guidance for undocumented youth within educational, professional, and advocacy spaces. Thus, the IUYA Social Justice Mentorship Program was established to empower directly impacted youth to dismantle systematic oppression through social justice education, professional development, and community organizing for the betterment of all communities.
As part of the mentorship program, mentees will partake in social justice education centered around understanding how their identities intersect and influence experiences related to both privilege and oppression. Mentees will gain a better understanding of how to dismantle systemic oppression through leadership and community organizing opportunities. The IUYA Social Justice Mentorship Program takes on a holistic approach by focusing on meeting mentee-specific goals, empowering mentees, and helping mentees meet their basic physiological and psychological needs.
We are not accepting new applicants at this time.
About the program
Program duration:
The program runs for 7 months, from January 2024 to July 2024. It includes the following components:.
- Mentee-mentor bonding experience
- Mandatory workshops
- One-on-one meetings
- Group project
- Active involvement in community activism
Workshop Schedule:
Workshops will be held on the second and fourth Saturdays of each month, from 11:00 AM to 3:00 PM.
Attendance Requirement:
To participate in the graduation ceremony, cohort trips, and to qualify for scholarship opportunities, you must attend at least 8 of the 11 workshops. Please plan ahead and notify us at admin@iuya.org if you need any support to ensure your attendance.
Our vision
Being a young undocumented individual can come with many difficulties. There can be times of uncertainty and hardship that force us to guide ourselves through unknown paths. We should not be forced to face personal struggles and social injustices alone. You deserve to have the guidance and support of someone who truly understands your struggles as an undocumented youth.
This mentorship program was created to provide you with not only emotional support and guidance in your career aspirations but also to give you the tools necessary to dismantle the systems that unjustly oppress marginalized communities. You will be paired with a mentor that will help you through your personal journey. Our goal is to empower and prepare our future community leaders and activists.
Eligibility
- Must be an undocumented person residing in Indiana
- Must provide proof of academic enrollment at an institution in Indiana by July 1, 2024
- Must demonstrate financial need
For Mentors Only: Must currently be undocumented or previously have been undocumented. We believe there is a communal understanding of our shared struggle within the undocumented community. Therefore, mentors must be/have been undocumented in order to fully understand and connect with their mentees. Mentors must be at least 18 years old.
For Mentees Only: Must have been directly impacted by immigration policies, whether that is being undocumented (DACAmented), or having family who is directly impacted as well.
“I am no longer accepting the things I cannot change. I am changing the things I cannot accept.” – Dr. Angela Y. Davis
