Become a 30-minute mentor
Summer's almost here and the 30-Minute Mentor program has gone digital! Sign up now by emailing Kris Puopolo (kpuopolo@penguinrandomhouse.com) and become a virtual mentor to our Women's Media Group Fellows today.
What is new this year?
This year’s mentor meetings will take place by video chat or phone. We’ve also redefined the purpose of the mentorship as helping the Fellows break in to the competitive business of media. When you meet a Fellow, along with getting to know each other, we hope you will share any job search tips, job leads, or interview advice you might have. Perhaps you could offer to look at a resume or cover letter, or make an introduction to a person in the Fellow’s field of interest.
What is a 30-Minute Mentor?
You may volunteer to spend as little as thirty minutes this summer mentoring one of our Fellows on the phone or Zoom. Or team up with your colleagues for a group chat. It's a minimal commitment for each member, but it adds up to a wide range of perspectives for the Fellows. You choose a month–July or August–in which to mentor, and we'll assign you a Fellow.
What is the Fellowship?
One of the goals of the Women's Media Group is to support young women of color who are interested in publishing careers. In recent years, we've partnered with Retha Powers, who directs the Publishing Certificate Program (PCP) at the City College of New York, to identify students who show exceptional promise and a strong commitment to working in media. Fellowship recipients receive invitations to WMG events over the summer, one-on-one mentoring from our members, and a stipend to help cover living costs, among other benefits.
Who are this year's fellowship recipients?
WMG is thrilled to welcome 2020 Fellows Boranda Diaz and Ellen Dong:
Boranda Diaz is a senior at City College where she majors in English and is currently enrolled in the Publishing Certificate Program. One of her goals as an aspiring editor is to explore stories written by Latinx writers like herself as well as other writers of color. Boranda hopes that through this fellowship she can learn what it takes to be an editor so she can help writers of multiple backgrounds get their stories out there. There is a growing need for those voices especially now.
Ellen Dong recently graduated from the City College of New York with a degree in English, Creative Writing and completed the Publishing Certificate Program. She is a first-generation American who learned to take her struggles understanding the English language and turn it into inspiration. Ellen has a passion for both the publishing and healthcare fields. For the last two years, Ellen worked as a phlebotomist in a hospital. She is also one of the frontline healthcare workers who fought alongside many others throughout the pandemic. Ellen hopes to use this fellowship as an opportunity not only to develop experience in the publishing field but also to change how her community views this career path.
We look forward to making this summer's 30-Minute Mentor program a smashing success. Please note: you don't have to work in any particular specialty to mentor a Fellow.
Once again, to become a 30-Minute Mentor, please contact Kris Puopolo at kpuopolo@penguinrandomhouse.com and let us know which month is best for you (July or August). And please let us know if you have any questions at all.
Thank you!
Moira Bailey, Darcie Rowan, Emi Ikkanda, Cecilia de la Campa, Jennifer Perry, Nevin Mays, Susannah Greenberg & Kris Puopolo
WMG Fellowship and Scholarship Committe