Looking for a mentorship program that is geared towards the Black undergraduate student experience in the Faculty of Health? The Black Students Mentorship Program (BSMP) offers Black students mentorship opportunities, resources for academic, personal and professional development, and a safe and supportive community.
The student-led group works to target the academic barriers faced by Black students in the Faculty of Health, the BSMP works to remediate the lack of Black graduate students and professionals in health and STEMM-related fields. BSMP offers an opportunity for the Black undergraduate student community to overcome the systemic barriers and succeed in academic and career prospects with appropriate guidance.
BSMP is funded by the Agents of Change program which is affiliated with Calumet and Stong Colleges and supports projects that address social determinants of health and are actively participating in achieving the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDG). The BSMP has been identified as working to address social determinants of health such as income, education and working conditions, social safety networks, gender, social exclusion, and race; and aims to achieve UN SDG 3 (good health and well-being), UN SDG 4 (quality education) and UN SDG 10 (reduced inequality).
Since the program’s start in January, BSMP has hosted events such as orientation night; an educational health panel with leaders from Sunnybrook Hospital, CAMH and more; a workshop on preparing for graduate school; and mentorship opportunities. To mark Black History Month, BSMP participated in the Mental Health Talk and Black Student Experience panel discussion hosted by the York United Black Students’ Alliance (YUBSA) and presented at a conference held by the Canadian Black Scientist Network presenting Black professional and students interested in the STEMM fields.
The program has established connections with community partners, including Women’s Health in Women’s Hand, Sunnybrook Hospital, and Generation Chosen. These partnerships will foster positive change and promote success by normalizing and understanding the Black experience in academia.
To learn more about BSMP, visit Instagram at @bsmp.yorku or contact the team at bsmp.health.yu@gmail.com to find out more about the next recruitment cycle to become a mentee or mentor.