Students can find mentorship opportunities with YP CoNext at ASU

Arizona State University and the Greater Phoenix Urban League Young Professionals invite ASU students to apply for the YP CoNext at ASU mentoring program.

“This program provides opportunities for personal growth, community connections and psychosocial development — that enhances participants’ esteem and interpersonal skills — through mentoring partnerships that promote the transition from student to young Black professional,” said Ashlee Atkins, president of the Greater Phoenix Urban League Young Professionals and diversity manager for ASU Enterprise Partners.

“Mentors and program staff also offer ongoing and special programming that highlight strategic leadership development, academic excellence and career development.”

In 2020, Arizona State University joined in collaboration as YP’s first university pilot. Together they sought to build intentional relationships between college students and young Black professionals. This spring, the dynamic team is looking forward to onboarding first-year through senior ASU students into cohort three for the 2022-2023 academic year.  

Through mentoring, participants will build self-esteem and interpersonal skills that will serve them throughout their career and their lives.

Atkins says that mentees benefit from the program by receiving real, lived personal and work experience from professionals in their interested field.

“Our mentors are very transparent with what it’s like to be the minority in a lot of these different spaces and how they have overcome them to be high-performing young professionals,” Atkins said.

Mentors have the opportunity to give back and give advice that they may not have received while in college. It is a chance for them to help mold future leaders of tomorrow and give them the confidence to step into any room.

“Mentoring is important in any stage of our lives, whether it is for personal usage or career guidance. No matter what age you are, it allows us to learn from others’ life experiences, skill sets and knowledge, that way we can make informed decisions,” Atkins said. 

Program requirements and application information can be found on the YP CoNext website.