So what’s the new Mentor Program all about? In a word, it’s about community. The new mentor program matches professionals and students into pods or small community groups based on interests, goals and preferences. Unlike previous years, this mentor program is open to students, interns and ALL professionals of color seeking mentorship.

As a program participant, you’ll be assigned one main pod based on your interest, preferences, and goals. Your pod will share similar interests and passions to you and/or have people in the group who can support you in what you’re working toward this year.

Here’s what you need to know about the program

Each pod will have a different focus based on the topics that are most popular in the program applications. In previous years this has included a focus on topics like private practice and entrepreneurship, what to do in dietetics, community and public health, getting into a supervised practice program, and excelling in my career to name a few. As always, the DD team will provide resources to help your pod stay connected and keep the conversations going

When do the pods get together?

When you meet is up to the group! Each pod will have at least one facilitator who will help the group stay organized. We recommend connecting somewhere between monthly and bi-monthly. This can be via text, whatsapp, email, zoom, in-person, or whatever you decide as a group. It’s completely understandable if not everyone is able to make it to all the pod meetings. We encourage you to still meet at a time that works best for most.

At the kick off meeting you’ll get a chance to meet some of your pod mates for the first time. We will also have a Winter Workshop (Jan/Feb) and Spring close out (May) to bring all the pods together.

What If i want to check out another pod?

No problem! Each pod is required to share their pod meeting dates with the DD team. These will be shared out monthly in the mentor program newsletter. The meeting dates are available on the website and every month in the mentor program newsletter. Join the ones that seem most helpful to you.

Does this mean I won’t have a 1-1 mentoring Relationship?

The good news is, you can still have a 1-1 mentor if you’d like, but it’s up to you to start that relationship. You get to decide who that mentoring relationship is with and can reach out to ask them if that’s something they can support. Feel free to use the mentor program resources to start and keep your relationship going.

Why the Change in Format?

1.DD community feedback

Over the last 5 years we’ve gotten feedback about how to improve the Mentor Program. From that feedback we heard that the DD community wants mentorship and support for students, interns AND professionals of color no matter how many years you've been in the field. One where you can learn and grow from a whole community, not just the one person you’re matched with.

2. Group mentoring builds connection

Connection and support was another reason we made this change. Mentorship is a proven strategy to facilitating success. It’s an opportunity to receive support and let’s be honest, for people of color in the field of nutrition, some spaces can feel isolating and less than supportive. While 1-1 mentorship is great, the program has grown to have such a rich community of amazing, talented mentors and mentees. The group mentoring format allows you to meet and grow with more of these phenomenal people and provides:

An opportunity to form connections with like-minded individuals facing similar challenges or pursuing similar goals.
A safe space for sharing concerns, and opportunities for collaborative problem-solving.
Access to diverse perspectives and experiences
A sense of community with a larger group of people who share your same values
Increased motivation and accountability
Peer support and camaraderie

3. Our philosophy on mentoring - you can learn from everyone.

Traditional mentoring can sometimes feel like all the answers sit with one person, but we all have valuable life experiences to share and the ability to both teach and learn. Whether you’ve never taken a nutrition class in your life or you’ve had over 30+ years as a professional, your perspective can bring new ideas into the room and are worth sharing.

Who can participate?

Mentees (someone looking for support and advice) - students, interns, and professionals at any level, who identify as a person of color - open to DD members and non-members.

Mentors (those looking to share their experiences and provide support) - not limited to any racial/ethnic or demographic background.

Please note some pods will be specifically for people of color while others will be inclusive of all racial and ethnic demographics.

Can I be a mentor and mentee at the same time?

Absolutely! If you identify as a person of color you can be both mentor and mentee in this program. We recognize that you have things you want to share AND may also be looking for mentorship as well.

As a white professional, Am I able to join the program?

Yes, our mission is dedicated to increasing the racial and ethnic diversity of the field of dietetics and we believe everyone has a part in making that happen! We feel a responsibility to provide a safe and protected space in the dietetics profession and believe that any professional that serves as a mentor must acknowledge and understand the systemic barriers that impact students and professionals of color in this field. It is required that all Mentor Program volunteers are committed to identifying and working to manage their own unconscious biases and micro-agressive thoughts and behaviors related to working with people of color.

if I participated in the past, can I join again?

Yes, you’re welcome to join the program as many times as you’d like. You will just have to fill out a new application.

Are their any other program requirements?

By applying to this program you’re agreeing to:

Meet with your pod for the duration of program year or communicate when you are not able to
Provide feedback through the mentor program evaluation process (pre, mid point, and post survey)
We ask that, no matter their race or ethnicity, all Diversify Dietetics Mentors read the following article before deciding to apply to work with the Dietetics Community: Unpacking the Invisible Knapsack.

This article is by no means a completion of the personal work mentioned above, but an introduction to the realities that the students of our Community are facing, and to why we require that volunteers are committed to working on their own thoughts and behaviors towards their inherent privileges. If you read this work and are unsure if you are a good fit to mentor in this program, check out this resource to continue your work, and we encourage you to apply to volunteer at a future time, when you feel ready.

Ready To Join The Mentor Program?

Applications are currently closed!

Join the interest list at the top of the page to stay up to date on when the next cohort launches.

Meet the Mentor Program Team!

We’re working hard to deliver the best Mentor Program possible. Got questions or just wanna say hi? Email us at mentor@diversifydietetics.org