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Inspiring entrepreneurs in Bristol to achieve their ambitions
Lynn Mareno’s vision for Bristol is a city in which everyone is able to make the most of opportunities regardless of their race or background.
The co-founder of Rise hopes to help make this a reality through the launch of a new mentoring programme that will match budding entrepreneurs with people who are already successful in their chosen fields.
Launching on Thursday, January 14, the Rise2Inspire programme will run for six months initially and aims to help develop business and leadership opportunities, boost the confidence of participants to achieve their career goals and address a current lack of support.
It has been launched by the people behind Rise, a non-profit social enterprise established in 2013 to help address the lack of visibility of black businesses on the high street, and each of the mentors enrolled to take part are previous Rise Award winners.
Explaining why there’s a need for the mentoring programme, Lynn says: “My vision for our city would be to see future generations from the African heritage diaspora, confident enough to take up every opportunity afforded to them as individuals adding to the richness of a city I grew up in, which was divisive.
“Believing we have to prove ourselves to get accepted should no longer be something we have to think about because of the colour of our skin.”
It is hoped the programme will not only help people from underrepresented backgrounds succeed but also create a platform for black entrepreneurs, address existing inequalities and provide a tool for better integration in the wider business community.
Founders say its strength lies in recruiting mentors who are from black and brown communities in Bristol, who will be able to share not only their professional experience but also their common lived experience with their mentees.
The Rise2Inspire mentors taking part in the new programme – image courtesy of Sandra Gordon/Rise
Sandra Gordon, a Rise co-founder, adds: “Mentoring is about hope, guidance and being able to see the potential and possibilities to be whatever you want to be in life.
“This programme will help to increase the self-confidence and self-awareness of the mentees as well as facilitate exposure to new ways of thinking and encourage innovation. Having someone who believes in you and your dreams, is an invaluable tool to success and achievement.
“My hope is that everyone has an equal opportunity to benefit and enjoy the fruits of this prosperous vibrant city. Ethnic role models and those in senior prominent positions of power will be easily visible and reflect the make-up of a changing Bristol.”
Rise award winner Rayan Wilson, the founder of Back2Action is one of the mentors – photo by Carl Barnet, Colorsuper
Register for free for a place at the launch event via www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/rise2inspire-mentoring-program-launch-event-tickets-130188079049.
Main photo of Sandra Gordon and Lynn Mareno of Rise – courtesy of Sandra Gordon
Read more: Free mentoring programme for women entrepreneurs launches in West
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