Program Overview

Introduction to the Black Youth Mentorship and Leadership Program

The Black Youth Mentorship and Leadership Program is an interdisciplinary initiative designed to equip Black youths with the skills needed to thrive in both academia and the workforce. Open to students from all disciplines, the program for high school youth offers mentorship opportunities wherein participants gain valuable research or professional practice experience under the guidance of Black professionals or faculty members.

Program Structure

• The program runs from July 2 to August 7, 2026, and participants commit to the mentorship program full-time.
• Each week, participants dedicate each day to participating in mentorship sessions with professionals and/or graduate students.
• Additionally, participants collaborate on a group project, further enhancing their skills and knowledge through teamwork.

Benefits and Outcomes

• Students participating in the summer program earn a stipend, subject to funding availability.
• Upon completion of the program, participants receive a certificate of completion.
• Participants can also apply to earn high school credits if they wish to do so.

Career Exploration and Development

• BYMLP participants gain professional and research experience across a wide range of disciplines, spanning arts, nursing, medicine, science, business, engineering, social science, law, and more.
• Through interaction with role models including faculty members, students, and working professionals, participants have the opportunity to explore diverse career paths and broaden their horizons.

University Context

The University of Calgary, located in the heart of Southern Alberta, acknowledges and pays tribute to the traditional territories of the peoples of Treaty 7, which include the Blackfoot Confederacy, the Tsuut’ina First Nation, and the Stoney Nakoda. The city of Calgary is also home to the Métis Nation within Alberta. The University of Calgary is situated on land traditionally known as Moh’kins’tsis to the Blackfoot, Wîchîspa to the Stoney Nakoda, and Guts’ists’i to the Tsuut’ina, where the community strives to learn together, walk together, and grow together “in a good way.”