You wish you had a mentor.
You wish to mentor someone.
You wish to feel partnership.
There is marginalized group that you wish to support.
After you choose what inspires you and your purpose, plan the details. You plan from the vision of what it would look like ideally, and move towards what will work realistically.
For example, I sought partnerships. I needed to venture to another county to reach the partnerships I sought, from mentorship, to support amongst other female leaders.
I realized I sought this structure within my own county. I promote the idea to the local organization. I then planned a presentation, seeking out information from the other county.
I presented, and there was a change in support: to all leaders versus female. We moved forward. There was not a budget. I oversaw partnerships, and promoted among members at local events. I paid for coffee for those who met together. I assigned based on interest of mentor vs. mentee, and personally sought others to join.
Then we moved forward two years later with it becoming partners in learning, since some noted a question about mentorship. For two years, one that was interrupted with COVID, and the next during COVID, staff were partnered with people based on either similar interests, or with one having expertise in an area that another wished to learn more about. It was promoted to collaborate.
The fifth year, another member brought up SisterHood Circles, which circled back to the original idea. We had three meetings, with someone else leading, asking and obtaining funding for support, with unique activities.
Sometimes, it takes a first step. Sometimes it doesn’t continue the way initially imagined.
But we need to start. Go!
Always More 