青年涩导航

The Akron Community Foundation has awarded the QUEST Mentorship Program, an initiative within the LGBTQ+ Center, a $2,000 micro-grant for the coming year.

QUEST Mentorship provides 1:1 mentor/mentee relationships for students to focus on career guidance and general support. They also connect as a larger group during monthly meetups and assist in building community while at the same time, develop professionally.

LGBTQ+ Center Director Ken Ditlevson believes the value of community made a big impression on the Akron Community Foundation.

鈥淭hey look for programs that impact our greater community, [and] I believe they value our program because it incorporates community volunteers to serve as mentors to students,鈥� he said. 鈥淢entors get to share their expertise that help guide students in their career and personal journey.鈥�

The outreach program contributes to helping students gain valuable life skills. Some of them include guidance in identifying career fields that would be a good fit, resumes created and reviewed, setting up a LinkedIn account, practicing job interview sessions, meeting new friends, having additional support, and even shadowing in a career.

鈥淭his is truly one of my most favorite programs that I have been part of over my 20 years working in social service and helping organizations,鈥� said Ditlevson. 鈥淪ince we linked with Career Exploration and Development this year, the program has gotten even stronger. It matches two big important needs with students needing career guidance/emotional support as well as helping community members in finding meaningful ways to give back to the community.鈥�

According to Ditlevson, the money comes at the perfect time considering the pandemic impacted their work, forcing the group to pivot and do things a bit differently than usual.

鈥淲e typically utilize funds for monthly programming, to purchase food/snacks for the students and mentors, plus an annual launch/training session, and end of year dinner,鈥� he said. 鈥淪ince COVID, we have been focusing our grant funds on supplies for students to help them in launching their careers and work experience.鈥�

Ditlevson added that over the years, the Quest Mentorship has paid big dividends, pointing to an experience that proves this is a program that yields results.

鈥淢y husband was a mentor to a student that wanted to work in special education, and eventually the student mentee went in to shadow his mentor at his school with special needs children,鈥� he said. 鈥淎fter his time shadowing and seeing a typical day, he decided it was NOT the field for him; it might not seem like a success, but it truly was because he figured this out before graduating and going into the workforce.鈥�

For more on the LGBTQ+ Center, please visit /lgbtq

For more on the LGBTQ+ QUEST Mentorship Program, please visit /lgbtq/quest-mentorship-program