We appreciate the leadership of CA4 in creating mentorship programs that impact students and alumni, and we are grateful to CA4 for sharing their Mentoring Handbook, which is a useful resource for Black alumni leaders and organizations around the country.
From the handbook:
"Mentoring Black students is a valuable way to stay connected with your alma mater's community while making a difference to a new generation of Black students.
As a mentor, you can help students hone essential leadership skills and better articulate their goals, as well as offer a safe space in which to raise issues, tackle challenges, and develop confidence. Finally, professional networking takes place which we all know is invaluable in career exploration.
Great mentees take an active role and responsibility for their own learning and development, and great mentors facilitate that growth by asking thought-provoking questions that help a student to reflect on their experiences. In the process, the mentee gains help and insight as they explore career options, navigate the university landscape, and bridge the gap from student life to work life."
To download the handbook, click below.
Immediate Past President Bruce Alexander and other dedicated CA4 members have mentored African American cadets since the organization was formed in 2016. CA4 recently honored the 50th anniversary of the matriculation of Charles Foster, who broke the color barrier, becoming the college’s first African American cadet.
Additionally, CA4 hosts an annual reception for African American cadet recruits at matriculation and participates in activities with cadets such as the Martin Luther King Day parade in Charleston, South Carolina.