2025 Forward Leadership Program Mentor Application Form

  • Forward Leadership Program
    2025 Mentor Application

    Thank you for your interest in supporting API Forward Foundation’s Forward Leadership Program for undergraduate college students! API Forward is a nonprofit based in Portland, Oregon, with a mission to advance and develop leaders in the Asian and Pacific Islander community. 

    The goal of the Forward Leadership Program is to empower students to develop their leadership potential. We hope to foster integrity, experience, and greater understanding of the importance of equity practice when leading in our community. Our hope is that program scholars will learn to lead for change for Asians, Pacific Islanders, and others.

    We are seeking mentors who will be caring, responsible adult volunteers. A mentor will serve as a trusted friend and guide to scholars who have been accepted to the Forward Leadership Program. S/he/they helps to ensure that the scholars develop important collaborative and life skills, is exposed to new opportunities and resources, and learns how to navigate a professional environment as they complete the program.

    Expectations:

    • Commit to spending four months in a professional relationship with a scholar or scholar team. 
    • Spend at least five - eight hours engaged in a mutually agreed-upon curriculum with their scholars throughout the project timeline.
    • Communicate with your assigned scholars bi-weekly.
    • Recognize your role as a mandated reporter and report any problematic issues. 
    • Attend a leadership orientation, tentatively in late January 2025 (likely a Saturday).
    • Check-in with the program staff once a month. 
    • Complete evaluation surveys as requested by staff. 
    • Be available for the final presentation with your project team in late April.
    • Attend the API Forward Gala in May 2025, API Heritage Month and speak about their experiences with the program.

    We also expect mentors to:

    • Be respectful of the scholars’ time, opinions, and decision-making, and in return, provide constructive feedback to help scholars to advance. 
    • Serve as a positive role model by modeling desirable behaviors—e.g. patience, tolerance, and reflective listening. 
    • Be comfortable and able to establish appropriate boundaries with the scholars. 
    • Be encouraging and supportive of the scholars. 
    • Help the scholar develop a milestone plan for completing their project.
    • Honor all commitments made to the scholars and other mentors.

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  • APPLICATION PROCESS

    To be considered, applicant must meet the following eligibility requirements:

    • Be 25 years of age
    • Have professional experience
    • Submit an application, 2 professional references, a photo ID (to show during the leadership orientation)
    • Successfully complete the Mentor Onboarding Meeting with a Forward Leadership Program board member prior to the program start (Date to be determined)

    Checklist for a completed application packet (incomplete or late applications will not be considered):

    • Resume outlining work history, volunteer/service experience, awards and honors (upload).
    • A photo ID (to show during the leadership orientation).
    • Information for two professional references who can speak to your professional ability, leadership and/or mentoring skills, and other qualities.
      Complete application form (online).

    Deadline: Friday, December 6, 2024 (by 11:59 p.m. Pacific Standard Time.)

    The Forward Leadership Program runs from the end of January-April 2025.

    Project presentations will take place in late-April 2025 on a mutually-agreed upon date. Winners will be announced at the annual May Gala (date TBD).

  • HELPFUL REMINDERS

    This online form does not allow you to save your progress so be sure to have all the interest form elements ready before you start. To submit your resume, please save it as either Word or PDF files and include your name in the file name.

    For questions, email communications@apiforward.org.

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  • MENTOR APPLICATION FORM

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  • PROFESSIONAL REFERENCES

    Please provide information for two professional references who can speak about your professional ability, leadership and/or mentoring skills, and other qualities.

    Professional Reference #1

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  • Professional Reference #2

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  • APPLICANT INFORMATION

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  • CURRENT PROFESSIONAL WORK

  • APPLICANT CERTIFICATION: By submitting this application, I certify that the information in this application is true. I understand that falsification of any information will result in disqualification of this application. I agree that this application becomes the property of API Forward. I understand that this application will be assessed based on the information provided and submission of it does not guarantee that I will be accepted into the Forward Leadership Program. I agree that in the event I am selected as a participant of the Forward Leadership Program, this form also serves as a release to use my name, photographs, and biographical information in press releases, etc. announcing and promoting this program.

  • Thank you for your interest in the Forward Leadership Program and for supporting our API students and future leaders! We look forward to connecting with you. 

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