instagram icon twitter icon facebook icon linkedin icon

Mentor Match is a FREE mentorship program designed to build meaningful connections between young people ages 14-29 and caring, professional mentors. Through creativity, guidance, and shared experiences, Mentor Match helps youth discover their strengths, explore opportunities, and gain the tools they need to succeed in life. The program offers two streams:


Creative Connect: Dedicated to supporting young creatives and artists as they grow their craft, build confidence, and pursue their artistic goals.

Inspire Connect: Focused on supporting youth in their everyday life experiences—from academics and career planning to personal growth and navigating challenges.

Four friends laughing

Friends helping friends. Peer support. Each one, teach one.

Mentorship isn’t just about advice. Supporting one another is one of the bedrocks of Black community. Navigating life, artistic pursuits, and careers can be difficult. But mentorship can help you to find the resources, gain the skills, and unlock the doors you need opened to navigate your way towards success.

Mentorship plays a vital role in shaping future leaders—helping young people build connections, access resources, and unlock opportunities. It is a longstanding tradition rooted in sharing knowledge, forming supportive relationships, and empowering individuals to envision and pursue their path to success. More than guidance, mentorship is about removing obstacles, creating pathways, and affirming the brilliance that already exists within young people.

Who We Are For

MENTEES

Mentees are youth who are eager to learn, grow, and explore new possibilities. Whether you’re an aspiring artist looking for creative guidance or a young person wanting support in life, career, or personal development, Mentor Match is here for you. Our mentees are open to building relationships, ready to set goals, and excited to gain insight from mentors who have been where they are.

MENTORS

Mentors are community members, professionals, and creatives who are passionate about giving back. They bring lived experience, expertise, and encouragement to guide youth on their journey. As a mentor, you’ll have the opportunity to share your knowledge, support personal and creative growth, and make a lasting impact by walking alongside a young person as they navigate their next chapter of life.

HOW IT WORKS

Sign Up

1

You can create a new account in minutes, or log in using an existing LinkedIn account.

Select Role & Stream

2

Select the role that you want to play within the program. (Are you a mentor or mentee? Creative Connect or Inspire Connect?)

Complete Your Profile

3

Share your interests, mentorship goal(s), and more! This is an important step as it not only gives you a chance to reflect, but gives your future mentorship partner context to better support you on your path to success.

Submit Application

4

After submitting your application, a Nia Centre staff member will contact you in 1-3 business days to schedule your interview and orientation session.

Connect

5

After the orientation, you can begin connecting and building your mentorship relationship!

80+

Artists/
Professionals
as Mentors

100+

Mentees
Ready
to Connect!

50+

Mentorship
Match Ups

Events



Our Supporters

As a charity, we're thankful for the support of our funders and donors, who enable the work that we do.