Ethnically Sourced? in Current Events

I interviewed for two programs today. The organization is expanding. They are adding a Communications Coordinator. I don’t think I will land that one, even though I applied for it. The second one is more along the lines of what I was envisioning. It’s a good fit because of its mission. It’s about mentorship, I’ll be the mentor. I would be working with Aboriginal youth and their families who have moved to the city from communities up north. We would be doing recreational activities together. Ages 14-24.

The interview for the second program went alright. It could have been better. I’m usually quick on my feet. I was glad that the coordinator explained what they were all about. It’s the same journey I am on. I could tell that she liked me. My personality at least. Am I a good fit for the role? I’ll hear back from their HR and find out in the next couple of weeks.

They want 75% of the personnel to be Indigenous so that Aboriginal youth can see people who look like themselves. This was something that I valued as a kid. I no longer want to expand into identities but this is something I feel ready to do. I can participate in identities without belonging to them. The memory of my ancestors is in my DNA and I have to honour them in some way. The program is about restoring that culture and I had to explain that I would be learning along with the youth at first because I never had anything like their organization growing up. I didn’t have a connection. She seemed excited about that journey for me and gave me brownie points for being honest. I would be participating in their ceremonies and cultural practices.

The coordinator was writing down quotes that I had for a lot of the answers. I was like a Hallmark card to her. Talking about how the revolution we need can only be internalized. How change has to happen within because life is coming from us. She seemed excited to have met me but she also has one of those personalities. She isn’t who I would be reporting to, however. There was a young man that interviewed me as well. His face lit up when I walked into the room, I think he started blushing. He sounded nervous when he talked to me.

This will be way out of my comfort zone. I don’t feel all that confident that I will get it either. It’s in a rough area of the city. I’ll be dealing with a lot of troubled people in the part of town that I’ve avoided my whole life. That’s where we need to be though, if our mission is to create social change. Everything about the role feels so foreign to me. It would definitely be a challenge, I really do hope that I get the opportunity though. This is something worth expanding into. Unlike the merchandising gigs, I have been applying to.