Project will help keep newcomers here

This column previously appeared in the Telegraph-Journal on May 19th, 2010.

The article was written by FUSION Saint John’s Claire Ryan:

Over the course of the spring and summer, FUSION will be working with the Population Growth Secretariat to develop a pilot mentorship program for youth and newcomers in the city.

“When the Population Growth Secretariat approached us to work on this program, we quickly realized that this was an initiative that aligns with our mandate to attract and retain people to Greater Saint John,” said project co-ordinator Sarah Craig. “This will be a great opportunity for people who are interested in staying in Saint John to network and receive one-on-one support from an individual who’s already fully integrated in the city.”

The program will be targeted primarily at university and college students and newcomers under 35 years of age who are passionate about effecting positive change in the community, and interested in learning from established community leaders.

Mentors will be drawn from a variety of professional and volunteer organizations so as to provide a broad spectrum of experience and counsel. A similar pilot project is also underway in Bathurst.

This initiative will differ from more traditional career mentorship programs in that it will be largely informal, to allow for those involved to define how and when they meet on their own terms, whether it is on the phone, through email, or over regular face-to-face meetings. Though the program itself will only be six months in duration, it’s intended to foster long-term relationships, so that mentors and proteges alike can continue to learn from one another based on their experiences and insights on career development, volunteer work, civic engagement and other aspects that contribute to Saint John’s quality of life.

“Our hope is that this program will increase retention in both the university and newcomer population, while giving the leaders in our community a better understanding of the challenges this demographic faces,” Craig said. “We’d like to see the mentorship relationship become a source of inspiration for both sides to make the city a place that welcomes young people and provides opportunities for them to be engaged.”

Whether they’ve grown up here, or are completely new to the city, people who are considering putting down roots can draw from a wealth of knowledge by simply being exposed to people who have found success living and working in the city. Conversely, mentors stand to gain from being plugged into the new ideas and fresh perspectives their proteges bring to the table.

Project planning is currently underway, and interested individuals will have an opportunity to apply this summer. The program will launch this fall, and regular updates will be available online at www.fusionsj.com.

Claire Ryan is on the FUSION Saint John board. Reach her at cryan@mtlpr.ca.