Dear Members,

Thank you for your interest in the AES Mentorship Program. The program is an important initiative of the AES Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion Committee to further the committee's mission to ensure diversity in the AES worldwide and the audio industry as a whole by improving accessibility, welcoming diverse genres, embracing emergent audio fields and research, and radiating inclusiveness to all races, gender and gender identities, physical abilities, ages, and nationalities.

"Mentorship is the influence, guidance, or direction given by a mentor. Mentor is someone who teaches or gives help and advice to a less experienced and often younger person. In an organizational setting, a mentor influences the personal and professional growth of a mentee." (Wikipedia)

PROGRAM DETAILS

Mentors and Mentees will be matched for a 12-week Term, beginning with an AES-hosted Zoom meeting in Week 1, then independently driven by Mentors and Mentees for Weeks 2-12. We recommend meeting weekly for 30 minutes or more using a communication method of your choice. Weekly meetings can be scheduled according to Mentor and Mentee availability and capacity.

At the end of the 12-week Term, we will ask Mentors and Mentees to each fill out a brief Survey so that we can accurately reflect and improve upon the Mentorship Program.

DATES

The AES Diversity & Inclusion Committee will pair Mentors with Mentees before each Term. The anticipated dates of each Term are as follows:

     - Term 1: February 28, 2022 - June 3, 2022
     - Term 2: September 12, 2022 - December 10, 2022

You can select one or more Terms in the Mentor Application depending on your interest and availability.

MENTOR GUIDELINES
 
     - Be a Professional Member of AES (members will receive preference, associate members may be assigned mentees, based availability).

     - Have the desire to volunteer as a Mentor in your area(s) of expertise

     - Commit to participating for the duration of the 12-week term, providing timely communication with Mentees
       and collaborating to schedule weekly sessions.

     - Review and abide by AES Code of Conduct (https://aes2.org/code-of-conduct/), paying special attention to  
       Section II. We are committed to establishing mentorship relationships that are safe, hospitable, and
       productive for everyone, inclusive of ethnicity, religion, disability, physical appearance, and gender.

     - Provide learning opportunities for Mentees that are enriching and support professional growth but do not
       veer into the realm of unpaid internship tasks. Additional tips for activities and topics to cover with your
       Mentees can be found here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1wiWaJuzn1atFmqrOs0zjPzmfChFa1oBL0KMujESO420/edit?usp=sharing.