2025 Alphabet Institute
Leadership, community connection, learning, and transformational support for queer, trans, Black, Indigenous and People of Color.
Art: Kalu
Program Requirements
Be queer and/or trans.
Be Black, Indigenous, or a Person of Color.
Live and/or work in the Puget Sound region.
People of all ages are welcome. Most participants are adults, but teens 16 and older are welcome to apply.
Commit to being fully present: Relationship building is central to the institute.
Attendance expectations: Participants are expected to attend (in person or remotely) all events, so that everyone can learn from each other. Missing part or all of up to two sessions is acceptable, with prior notice. Please communicate about emergencies that will impact your attendance.Mentors and mentees will receive stipends for participation, based on attendance. Participants will receive DoorDash Gift cards for workshops and sessions (not 1-on-1 meetings with mentors, check-ins, or socials).
Application Dates
April 30: Applications due
May 1 - June 1: Review process, calling references
June 1: Decisions and announcement email, including bios for all mentors and mentees.
Applications for 2025 Institute
Apply to be a Mentor
Offer guidance and support to mentees, while growing and developing your leadership skills as a mentor.
Apply to be a Mentee
Build community in workshops with other mentees and receive ongoing support from a mentor.
Not sure?
If you’re not sure whether you want to apply as a mentor or a mentee, apply as a General Leader and we will see which role suits you for this year.
What to Expect
Weekly Workshops
Virtual, content-focused spaces exploring a range of topics:
Implementing Disability Justice and Making Spaces Accessible
Unpacking Imposter Syndrome
Conflict Mediation
How to Handle Burnout
Advocacy
Embodied Leadership
Come early, at 5pm, for additional casual hangout time!
Connection Sessions
Hybrid time for mentors and mentees to get to know each other. Use this time to connect, debrief workshop material, and meet your pairs!
Meeting with Mentors/Mentees
At least four meetings, scheduled whenever works for you. About once per month, virtual or in person.
General Membership Meeting
Mentors and mentees invited, not required
Virtual meeting with the general membership of AAoC.
Learn how we share resources and collaborate across QTBIPOC communities. After attending the General Member meeting, participants can attend all other meetings on 4th Wednesdays of each month.
Institute Social
Mentors and mentees invited, not required
Hybrid minimally-facilitated space for mentees and mentors to get together, build community, and share learnings from the program. More info TBD.
Mid-Program Check-in
15-20 minute virtual check-in with an AAoC staff person about how your mentorship relationship is going. Scheduled at a time that works for you.
Stipends & Gift Cards
All interested participants will receive:
Stipends for participation in required institute events, based on attendance.
DoorDash gift cards for Weekly Workshops, General Meeting, and Connection Sessions.
Program Timeline
Saturday, July 5, 1 - 4 p.m.
Institute Kick-Off (Hybrid)
Thursday, July 10, 5:30 - 8 p.m.
Weekly Workshop
Thursday, July 17, 5:30 - 8 p.m.
Weekly Workshop
Saturday, July 26, 1 - 4 p.m.
Connection Session (Hybrid)
Thursday, July 31, 5:30 - 8 p.m.
Weekly Workshop
Saturday, August 9, 1 - 4 p.m.
Connection Session (Hybrid)
Thursday, August 14, 5:30 - 8 p.m.
Weekly Workshop
Saturday, August 23, 1 - 4 p.m.
Connection Session - Pairing Party (Virtual)
Thursday September 4, 5:30 - 8 p.m.
Weekly Workshop
Thursday September 11, 5:30 - 8 p.m.
Weekly Workshop
Saturday September 20, 1 - 4 p.m.
Connection Session: Summer Closing (Hybrid)
Wednesday September 24, 5:30-8:30 p.m.
AAoC General Member Meeting
August - December:
Meeting with your Mentor/Mentee
October:
Mid-Program Check-in
Early-November:
Institute Social (Hybrid)
December 6, Time TBD
Closing Ceremony (Hybrid)
Art: Eileen Jimenez
Hybrid Protocols and Access
We have a strong commitment to disability justice at AAoC.
For us, that includes recognizing that the COVID-19 pandemic is still ongoing and impacting our communities, in particular those who are immunocompromised and their loved ones. We know that folks are (and want to be) gathering in person, and that those kinds of connections keep us alive and well, too. Based on feedback from our communities, we have crafted a hybrid protocol and plan for the Alphabet Institute. We are trying this out, and know there may be hiccups in the process, and appreciate your ongoing support and feedback as we do so.
Locations
All offerings will have a virtual option. We are still finalizing physical locations for our hybrid Connection Sessions, but will do our best to maintain accessibility and will likely have them in the Central District or South Seattle.
We plan to include:
Both completely virtual and hybrid events, to ensure that participants who will only be participating virtually have the opportunity to build relationships and belonging. This also keeps our program accessible for those who live further away in the Puget Sound region.
Food will be provided at the event for in person attendees, while virtual attendees can receive food gift cards.
Computers on-site so that in-person and remote attendees are equally distributed and participating in breakout rooms and pairs.
Early social time: during the workshops, attendees can come early (at 5 p.m.) for casual social time.
Captioning available virtually and in person. ASL interpretation available upon request.
Limited use of fragrances. As much as you are able, please refrain from using scented clothing detergent, perfumes and other heavily scented products.
In Person Participation Protocol
photo credit: @lulunation206
Please take an at-home covid test prior to arrival, and be sure to swab both nose and throat. Check out this guide on how to get a more accurate sample. If you are unable to get one we will have some available - let us know in advance. Email us results screenshots to brianna@alphabetalliance.org or bring a photo to the event.
Complete the Symptoms and Exposure Checklist on the day of the event. Please do not attend in person if you are experiencing symptoms or have been exposed, as defined in the checklist.
Facilities: Our former meeting location has a built-in, hospital-grade filtration system (100% fresh air supplied through ERVs and high-efficiency MERV 13 filters). Windows cannot be opened. Both covered and uncovered outdoor spaces are available for breakout rooms. Eating will be outside. We are intending to use this space again, and if there are changes we will update participants, but there will definitely be at least one air purifier in the space.
Universal masking with well-fitting, high-filtration masks (KN 95/ N95/KF94). Some high quality masks will be available.
Contact Tracing. Notify AAoC if you develop symptoms or test positive within 5 days following the event.
Optionally, consider using a nasal spray and CPC mouthwash before and after the event to reduce potential viral load. For more information about Covid prevention and treatment, check out this guide.
Mentee and Mentor Relationship
1-on-1 meetings begin after summer sessions
1-on-1s can look like a lot of different things, from walks in the park to grabbing food, zoom calls and book clubbing together, sky’s the limit! We want folks to connect in ways that feel fulfilling and makes sense for them.
Peer-to-peer mentorship
The Alphabet Institute is based on peer-to-peer mentorship, meaning that we don’t have strict requirements for what it means to be a mentor or a mentee. We want to encourage growth, learning, evolution and connection, and know that can look and feel a lot of different ways. We understand this definition of mentorship veers from the traditional sense of someone with a lot of experience passing down knowledge to someone with less experience. We moved away from this model because QTBIPOC are so often denied opportunities in traditional settings to share the knowledge gained through their lived experience. We all have things to share and we all have things to learn.
Mentorship Workbook
Participants will be given a workbook containing questions for paired and individual reflection.
Art: Jiéyì 周杰意