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NYC Service

Tech Industry mentors for under-resourced college students

NYC Service, New York, New York, us, 10261

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Tech Industry mentors for under-resourced college students Project Alpaca closes the resource gap for under-resourced college students and recent grads interested in the tech industry, and promotes workplace diversity. Our free 9‑month program offers a tailored career mentorship curriculum for an intimate cohort of 15 students. Programming includes hands‑on real‑world projects, portfolio making, speaker workshops, 1:1 mentorship, networking events, industry events, job interview coaching, company visits, and internship/job matching opportunities.

Project Alpaca mentors help mentees build their confidence in order to pursue a new career and to get their first full‑time jobs in the industry of their choice. They are professionals who come from a wide range of industries, can empathize with the struggles our mentees may have experienced, and want to make an impact. We affectionately call our mentors Alpacas because they champion our mentees.

To speed up the process of connecting with Project Alpaca, please complete the form on https://projectalpaca.org/become-an-alpaca/

Alpacas may support our mentees and community in several ways:

Each mentor checks in with a mentee regularly over a 3‑month period and cultivates a relationship. They listen with empathy, share relevant experiences, and are supportive in an authentic way. They inspire mentees by offering their time and communicating high expectations for their mentee, who may have questions about how to present their best selves to an employer, how to overcome personal challenges, or feeling uncertain about the future.

1‑on‑1 industry mentoring

Mentors guide mentees in a hands‑on project that they can showcase in a portfolio and that may help them improve skills they need for a job. Mentors make themselves available (virtually or in person) to share their expertise, answer questions and offer critical feedback until the project is complete, whether that takes two weeks or two months.

These mentors facilitate virtual or in‑person workshops to share valuable knowledge, insight and skills. Most lead an average of one to two workshops a year. Workshop topics and presentations include (but not limited to):

Share the story of how you began your career

Share insights into working in your industry

Reinforce transferable or soft skills (ie collaboration, emotional intelligence)

Boost career readiness (ie how to build an effective portfolio, create a LinkedIn profile)

Alpacas support our mission in other ways as well. Here are just a few examples of how they have contributed to our community:

Participate in mock interviews with mentees

Offer feedback on portfolios and resumes

Expose mentees to their work by offering a tour of their work environment or company

Connect mentees to internship and other career opportunities

Sponsor mentees to attend an industry event

Become liaisons to businesses interested in partnering with us

Help us develop marketing materials, organize community events, spread awareness

Attend our fun community and networking events

Population Served: Homeless, Immigrants, Refugees or Ethnic Groups, LGBT (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender), Low‑income communities, People with Disabilities, Youth

Requirements

Age minimum (with adult): 18+, Minimum age: 18+.

After expressing interest, the Opportunity Leader will contact you to confirm participation and provide directions for this opportunity.

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