Looking Back During Unprecedented Times - S.E.E.D.S. to STEM: Mentoring Growth & Success

On March 27th 2019, we hosted our annual S.E.E.D.S. celebration to honour the community partnerships we have built and foster a space to discuss the intersections between mentorship, mental health and the sense of belonging. This year’s theme was “S.E.E.D.S. to STEM: Mentoring Growth and Success,” which was put into place to capture our growing STEM Program and to emphasize our Mentorship Program. The metaphor in the title reflects our our constant endeavour to improve and emphasizes our belief in mentorship. We believe mentorship is a crucial element that can impact the lives of Canadian youth. Mentorship lays the foundation that allows individuals, especially students, to connect with leaders and discover opportunities that would otherwise be hidden.

To facilitate a conversation surrounding mentorship and its impact on youth career exploration and education, we invited three community leaders from various industries to engage in a panel discussion who included: Nicole Husain from Lighthouse Lab, Lekan Olawoye from MaRS Talent Development, and Pauline Kirkpatrick from ACESS Employment. These professionals shared their diverse experience with mentorship; be it as a mentor or a mentee. In addition to these panellists, we also invited one of the high school students that participated in our program to provide a youth's perspective. She shared her experience engaging in S.E.E.D.S. projects and learning as a mentee on her track and field team.

Our celebration successfully promoted a conversation about mentorship and its importance. Having our community partners, industry leaders, and program participants come together to engage in a night of great food, exceptional company, and inspiring conversation.