Access & Inclusion Peer Programs

Mentor navigators will be unavailable for individual appointments or drop-ins starting April 2 until approximately mid-August 2021. Students who submit requests during this period will be subscribed to our newsletter to receive information about summer events and job opportunities, and will be contacted as soon as appointments resume.

Access & Inclusion Peer Programs is a mentorship program for students from historically underrepresented and marginalized communities. We offer academic, career, wellness and social supports that foster a sense of belonging and community. We also help students navigate barriers to access, inclusion and success at U of T.

Our mentor navigators are caring upper-year students who identify as being from underrepresented communities. This includes, but is not limited to, students who are: Indigenous (First Nations, Inuit, Métis), African/Black/Caribbean, racialized, LGBTTI2SQQ+, first generation (parents/guardians did not complete post-secondary in Canada), religious/spiritual, currently or formerly enrolled in the Transitional Year Programme, mature, and/or transfer students.

Students attend one-to-one appointments with a mentor navigator of their choice. We also offer a series of events and workshops to connect students to each other and the U of T community.

Program Eligibility
Access and Inclusion Peer Programs is for:
- Indigenous students
- African, Black, Caribbean students
- racialized students
- mature students
- 2SLGBTTIQQ+ students
- Transitional Year Programme students
- first generation students
- religious and spiritual students
How The Program Works
1. Find a mentor navigator. Read about the six mentor navigators below, under Program Student Team.

2. Book an appointment with a mentor navigator.

3. Attend weekly drop-ins for undergraduate students from all disciplines to address questions, discuss ideas and connect with other students. Each drop-in is hosted by mentor navigators from your community.

Winter 2021 schedule:
- Mondays 2 – 3 p.m., First Generation Undergrad Students Drop-in
- Tuesdays 2 – 3 p.m., Latin American Undergrad Students Drop-in
- Wednesdays 2 – 3 p.m., Southeast Asian Undergrad Students Drop-in
- Thursdays 2 – 3 p.m., African, Black, Caribbean Undergrad Students Drop-in
Registration is required: Log in to CLNx.

4. Attend an event or workshop: Access & Inclusion Peer Programs hosts several events and workshops throughout the year for underrepresented students. Events are running virtually due to COVID-19.

Note: If you don’t want to attend events by yourself, you can book an appointment with a mentor navigator to join you when in-person events resume.

5. Subscribe to our newsletter: The Access & Inclusion Peer Programs newsletter lists our upcoming events and opportunities for underrepresented students.

6. Join our Facebook group: Join the Access & Inclusion Peer Programs Facebook group!
Program Activities & Schedule

25 Mar

Southeast Asian Students Confronting Anti-Asian Racism During COVID-19

This discussion, facilitated by Southeast Asian student leaders, is a space for Southeast Asian students to come together to talk about anti-Asian racism amidst COVID-19. We will emphasize sharing and learning from our own personal experiences with micro/macroaggressions, and how to report incidents.

Date: 25 Mar 2021
Start Time: 6:00 pm
End Time: 7:30 pm
Location: Virtual (MS Teams)

Register
Program Student Team
Angelli

Preferred Pronoun: She/they

Identity: Mixed Filipina (Southeast Asian) and white, queer, first generation

Role on Team: Mentor Navigator

Best Thing About This Program: Helping students find and develop supportive communities and networks while balancing academics and work.

Status: undergraduate

Program of Study: Double major in Drama, Theatre & Performance and Classical Civilization

Year of Study: 3rd

Interest(s):

Performance & traveling to new places

Outdoor swimming & trying new recipes

Making very specific playlists

Learn more about Angelli
Tom

Preferred Pronoun: He/him

Identity: Vietnamese, first generation, male, heterosexual, grew up and have lived all my life in downtown Toronto

Role on Team: Mentor Navigator

Best Thing About This Program: Book an appointment with a Mentor Navigator by selecting from among a team with diverse backgrounds.

Status: graduate

Program of Study: Adult Education and Community Development

Year of Study: 2nd year Master's

Interest(s):

I love to read and attend live shows and concerts. I am a huge tv-watcher/movie-goer.

When I am not filling eyes and ears with things, I keep active by going to the gym every morning and trying new things to cook.

Learn more about Tom
Tamara

Preferred Pronoun: She/her

Identity: Latinx, first generation

Role on Team: Mentor Navigator

Best Thing About This Program: Connecting with students to help them achieve their academic goals, and learn how to make the most of their strengths at U of T and beyond.

Status: graduate

Program of Study: Anthropology

Year of Study: 3rd year Ph.D.

Interest(s):

Trying new foods & keeping active

Reading sci-fi & watching true-crime videos

Spending time in nature

Learn more about Tamara
Vanessa

Preferred Pronoun: She/her

Identity: Black, African, first generation

Role on Team: Mentor Navigator

Best Thing About This Program: Its intentional goal of inclusivity.

Status: undergraduate

Program of Study: Double major in Criminology and Sociolegal Studies & Sociology

Year of Study: 3rd

Interest(s):

Discovering new music and artists

Journaling

Listening to podcasts

Learn more about Vanessa
Sian

Preferred Pronoun: She/her

Identity: Indo-Caribbean (Trinidadian), queer, first generation immigrant to Canada

Role on Team: Mentor Navigator

Best Thing About This Program: Sharing our experiences with one another.

Status: undergraduate

Program of Study: Double major in Political Science and Health Studies, with a minor in Sociology

Year of Study: 3rd

Interest(s):

I love to read novels, especially mysteries, and I'm an avid binge-watcher on Netflix.

I love to go hiking, especially during fall.

I really enjoy cooking!

Learn more about Sian
Idris

Preferred Pronoun: He/him

Identity: Black, recent immigrant from Africa, Muslim, mature, first generation

Role on Team: Mentor Navigator

Best Thing About This Program: Supports students from different communities to feel belonging.

Status: undergraduate

Program of Study: Specialist in Health and Disease, with a major in Cell and Molecular Biology

Year of Study: 3rd/4th

Interest(s):

Health and nutrition, social causes and community service

Basketball (Go Raptors!)

Photography

Learn more about Idris
Considerations & Exceptions
Past event titles for the 2020-2021 academic year include:
- Brave Storytelling: Finding our Voice
- Black Students Talk with Black Profs!: Confronting MACROagressions in the Classroom
- LatinX Wellness Café
- Conversations with Registrars: Academic Planning for First Gen Students
- How Identity Impacts Learning for Southeast Asian Students
- Black Futures: Let's Talk Careers in Law
- First Gen Students Facing the Future: What Are You Doing After Undergrad?
- Southeast Asian Undergraduate Students Clubs Fair UTSG
- Latin American Undergraduate Students Clubs Fair UTSG
- Engaging in Research as Black, Latin American & Southeast Asian Undergraduate Students
- First Generation Students & Experiences Living With Others During COVID-19
- Black Students Talk With Black Profs!: Confronting Imposter Syndrome
- Black Students Welcome and Black Clubs Fair UTSG
- Black, Latinx & Southeast Asian Men Need Mentors Too!
- First Generation Students, Their Parents/Guardians/Supporters & Financial Aid
- Black Students and the Impact of Police Killings of Black People
- Black Students Talk With Black Profs!: Black Hair Care During COVID-19
- Strategies to Help First Generation Students Succeed in this eLearning Environment
Past event titles for the 2019-2020 academic year include:
- Financial Aid & Financial Literacy for First Generation Students & Their Parents/Guardians/Supporters
- Indigenous Corn Husk Doll Making Workshop
- Black Students Talk With Black Profs!
- First Generation Students Get Ready for Midterms
- Accessibility Services Presents Hitting the Midterm Slump: Catching Up and Using Reading Week Productively
- Engaging in Research as Indigenous, Black & Racialized Students
- Students with Family Responsibilities Advocating for Themselves & Their Family Through Writing
- Navigating Faith & Career Decisions
- Indigenous, Black & Racialized Students Confront Imposter Syndrome
- Black Futures: Let's Talk Careers in Tech
- First Generation Students & Families Talk About Choosing Programs & Academic Plans
- Indigenous, Black & Racialized Students Get Ready for Exams!