Peer Mentor for BIPOC with Disordered Eating

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Recruiting Organization: Body Reborn

Mission Statement

Body Reborn helps marginalized people relieve mental hardship that occurs as a result of their negative relationship with food. We strive to live in a world where everyone has access to education around - and holistic care for - disordered eating.

Our responsibility is to marginalized people of all genders and cultures whose lives are held captive by distressing thoughts regarding food and their bodies.

Program Description

Our signature program is The Healing Collaborative, which provides a community recovery program for BIPOC individuals who struggle with food and/or body image. The program consists of:

1. 8-week program of Body Liberation sessions, which combine education and discussion around disordered eating and intersections with structural oppression in a small group setting
2. 8-week program of peer support groups, which provides an opportunity for community members to share personal experiences, feelings, and coping strategies. The focus of the peer support group is general mental health assistance, and is not solely focused on food and body issues
3. A 1-to-1 peer mentorship with a mentor who has a deep commitment to continual healing in their relationship with food. The mentor is expected to provide support to the participant as they work through their healing plan and life, and share personal experiences as desired/needed

Benefits to You

• Share your experiences and provide support to those who need it
• Continue to strengthen your own relationship with food
• Make a friend
• Recommendation Letter: After 6-12 months, you will receive a character and skill reference letter on request (for management, other volunteer positions, etc). Contingent on feedback
• Training and Check-Ins: Mentors will receive trainings every 12 months, along with regular check-ins to make sure that you are well supported

Expectations

• Speak with your mentee on a regular basis (approximately 2-4 hours a month per mentee)
• Communicate with your mentee via a contact method that works best for your relationship (text, call, video conference, or in-person). This is up to you both to decide
• Support your mentees as they develop and move through their healing plan
• Attend 1 training a year, and regular mentor check-in calls

Qualifications

• Lived experience with disordered eating and/or a challenging relationship with food and body image
• Have been recovered/healed/in recovery for 2+ years
• Willing to share healing/recovery journey with mentee
• 21 years or older
• Live in North America
• Ideal: You identify as a Black, Indigenous, and/or Person of Color

Additional Qualities:

• Wants to support other people who are currently fixing their disordered eating
• A willingness to learn (and unlearn). Discussion and training topics include, but are not limited to: Fatphobia, Racism, Trauma, Abuse, Queerphobia, and white supremacy
• Empathy
• Know your limits: A mentor is one source of support for individuals going through the program to heal their relationship with food. If you feel like something is out of your experience or comfort level, pause before responding and ask for help
• Know your strengths: Your personal experiences are your strengths. We don’t expect you to be experts, but we do hope that you can provide a source of support for someone who needs it.
• Willing to make at least a 1-year commitment to their mentee Note: If the relationship is not a good fit, we encourage mentors to reach out as soon as they realize for further guidance. Although we try to minimize this, at times mentors/mentees may change -- and that's OK

We serve community members with intersecting identities, and want our mentors to reflect our community. We highly encourage applications from Black, Indigenous, people of color (BIPOC), as well as Spanish speakers, people in larger bodies, first and second generation immigrants, LGBTQIA+ folks, neurodivergent individuals, and people with disabilities.

Stipend ProvidedFalse

Training ProvidedFalse

Housing AvailableFalse

Language/Cultral Support AvailableFalse

Wheelchair AccessibleFalse

Fee RequiredFalse

Fee Amount: None

This opportunity is recurring