GROW MENTORSHIP PROGRAM

What is the Southeast and Caribbean Disaster Resilience Partnership (SCDRP)? 

SCDRP is a regional collaboration network for professionals in emergency management, resilience, and disaster preparedness, response, and recovery specifically focused on the U.S. Southeast and Caribbean region. SCDRP serves as a trusted network to build professional skills, facilitate knowledge-exchange, advance equitable climate adaptation approaches, promote strategies for accelerating natural disaster recovery, and facilitate strong and diverse partnerships across professional sectors. 

 

What is RCE Greater Atlanta? 

RCE Greater Atlanta brings together universities and colleges from across the Greater Atlanta region with nonprofit, community, government, and business partners. RCE Greater Atlanta was acknowledged by the United Nations University on December 18, 2017, as a Regional Centre of Expertise on Education for Sustainable Development. The designation makes Atlanta one of over 190 RCEs worldwide. RCEs support multistakeholder implementation of the U.N. Sustainable Development Goals at the regional level through education and training.

 

Why participate? 

Both SCDRP and RCE Greater Atlanta consist of an extensive and diverse regional network of professionals who work across multiple disciplines and sectors with the common goal of advancing climate adaptation, resilience and sustainable development. Mentors will have the opportunity to use their experience and expertise to support resilience professionals who are earlier in their careers. Mentees will receive the invaluable opportunity to learn from and connect personally with experienced high-level professionals in their field. 

 

Who can participate?

Mentees may be students, early-career professionals, mid-career professionals, or anyone who would like to learn from someone with experience and expertise in their field. Mentors are experienced professionals with strong backgrounds in resiliency, emergency management, sustainability, or another climate-related field who work or have worked in the public sector, private sector, nonprofits, or academia. Mentors should have at least 5 years of professional experience within a relevant field. Mentees must be SCDRP Members to participate in the program (student membership is $50/year). In lieu of paying membership dues, mentees have the option to complete 4 volunteer hours in support of the Mentorship Program (which can be completed up to three months after the program’s completion). Volunteer tasks can be completed virtually and do not require any specialized experience. Examples of volunteer tasks may include helping develop program graphics and content, participating in a focus group to provide feedback on the program, or volunteering at the SCDRP Annual Meeting. SCDRP Membership for mentors is encouraged, but not required. Mentors and Mentees should be located within the Southeast and Caribbean region (North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Florida, Puerto Rico, or the USVI). Exceptions may be made on a case-by-case basis.

 
How do I sign up? 

Those interested in participating in the mentorship program (as a Mentor or a Mentee) fill out an application detailing their field of interest and areas of expertise, desired mentor/mentee characteristics, and other important information to help us make the best matches possible. Mentees will be accepted into the program based on a number of available mentors, ability and willingness to commit to the program, and demonstrated desire to grow professionally in the field of climate resilience/adaptation, emergency management, sustainability, or a related discipline. Mentees who are not accepted will be placed on a wait list, if desired, and will be notified if a spot becomes available. 

Click here to apply.

 

What is the commitment required? 

The GROW Mentorship Program will run from late September 2026 - March 2027. 

Both Mentors and Mentees are expected to: 

• Meet virtually or in person at least 4 times for one hour each. 

• Attend a 1 hour virtual training session. 

• Review additional self-guided training materials before the first meeting. 

 

Mentees are expected to: 

• Initiate scheduling mentorship sessions. 

• Identify 1-3 goals to work on during the course of the mentorship (guidance provided). 

• Prepare an agenda for each mentorship session (templates will be provided). 

• Hold an active SCDRP membership, or commit to 4 volunteer hours between September 2026-September 2027. 

 

Mentors are expected to: 

• Be responsive to mentees’ requests to schedule mentorship sessions. 

• Sign up to facilitate one virtual “Office Hour” between October 2026 and March 2027, where mentees will have the opportunity to join and ask questions. Learn more about Office Hours under the heading “What kind of support or ongoing engagement is provided?”

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How will I be matched with a Mentor or Mentee?  

A committee comprised of SCDRP and RCE Greater Atlanta staff and partners will pair Mentors/Mentees using a rubric that takes into account the following: field of interest/expertise, professional background, geographic location, and preferred Mentor/Mentee characteristics. We cannot guarantee that we will be able to match you with a Mentor/Mentee that meets all of your desired characteristics, but we will take all requests into consideration. 

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What kind of training is provided? 

Before beginning mentorship sessions, all Mentors and Mentees will attend one hour of virtual training to review mentorship expectations, best practices, and culturally aware mentoring. Participants will also be provided with supplemental materials and resources to support their mentorship experience. 

 

How will I meet with my Mentor or Mentee, and what will we talk about in mentorship sessions? 

Mentors and Mentees may meet in whatever format works best for both parties: Zoom or other virtual meeting, phone call, or in-person. Mentors/Mentees have the flexibility to discuss any topics related to professional development or career growth in sessions, but we will provide an outline of suggested topics and review materials for each session. Mentors/Mentees will schedule mentorship sessions on their own, with program staff available to step in and support as needed. 

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What kind of support or ongoing engagement is provided? 

After initial training and introductions, mentors and mentees schedule and hold mentorship sessions independently throughout the course of the program. GROW Mentorship Program staff are always available to answer questions, provide support and respond to concerns as needed. 

 

Program participants will be encouraged to participate in other SCDRP/RCE Greater Atlanta offerings, such as monthly virtual SCDRP Resilience in Action Forums, the SCDRP Annual Meeting, and others. If there is interest, Mentors and mentees will be invited to join a LinkedIn group or Slack/Discord channel for GROW Mentorship Program participants to support networking. 

 

Each mentor will be required to hold one virtual "Office Hour" during the program, giving mentees a chance to connect with them and ask questions. Mentees are strongly encouraged to attend at least one session and should come prepared with questions for the mentor. Mentors do not need to prepare a presentation or any other materials in advance. 

 

GROW Mentorship Program participants are eligible to apply for a registration scholarship to attend the SCDRP Annual Meeting, which will take place in March 2027. Scholarship applications are expected to open in December. Read more GROW at the SCDRP 10th Annual Meeting here.

 

Can I meet with my Mentor/Mentee beyond March 2027? 

Yes! If both the Mentor and Mentee agree that they would like to continue mentorship sessions beyond the official program duration, they may continue to meet as desired. If mutually acceptable, we also encourage micro-engagements (quick conversations to check-in or ask questions).