How companies can mentor LGBTQ refugees in North America

Mentorship can be incredibly beneficial in helping LGBTQ refugees find work and advance their careers. A mentor who offers career guidance, feedback on resumes and cover letters, and helps their mentee develop their professional network can drastically improve the professional experience of LGBTQ refugees – and their ability to integrate in their new communities. This step-by-step guide provides the building blocks for companies in Canada, Mexico, and the United States to develop a mentorship program for LGBTQ refugees, with a focus on professional development.

It includes: 

• Background on the challenges and opportunities faced by LGBTQ refugees when trying to enter the job market in North America
• Information for mentorship coordinators on how to recruit mentors, connect with a partner organization, match mentors and mentees, prepare mentors, and measure impact. 
• Information for mentors, including suggested content for each meeting with their mentees. 

This guide was a collaboration between the Tent Partnership for Refugees, the Organization for Refuge, Asylum, and Migration (ORAM), and the Human Rights Campaign Foundation (HRC). ORAM is a pioneer in advocating for the protection and well-being of extremely vulnerable LGBTQ refugees and asylum seekers globally. The Human Rights Campaign Foundation is the educational arm of America’s largest civil rights organization working to achieve equality for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer people.