Summary, Scope, and Responsibilities
Support, Perspective, Allyship, Representation and Qmunity (SPARQ) was established in 2015. The intention of SPARQ is to provide a space for LGBTQ+, allied and identity exploring students to expand their knowledge and experiences as it relates to gender and sexuality. Through education and social events, SPARQ hosts opportunities where all Bates students can participate, grow and build community across differences while maintaining intentional spaces of belonging.
The SCBC is committed to dismantling systems of oppression by actively centering and celebrating the voices and experiences of historically marginalized student identities. We foster belonging by creating spaces that encourage agency, awareness, and self-advocacy. We collaborate with students to explore their identities, develop community, and build connections through programs grounded in intersectionality, equity, and justice. The center’s foundational values are centered around community, connection and support.
Additional detail: For the purpose of this position, LGBTQ+ is an acronym that includes, but is not limited to: lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans (including transgender, non-binary, genderqueer, genderfluid, agender, etc.), queer, intersex, asexual, and pansexual. Interested students do not have to be LGBTQ+ to be considered. Considered Peer Advisors will demonstrate a commitment to creating supportive environments for LGBTQ+ students, regardless of their identity.
Bates Leads Framework
The Student Center for Belonging and Community (SCBC) embeds the Bates Leads Framework into its student leadership and employment positions. SPARQ Peer Mentors are leaders who take responsibility for solving a problem or achieving a goal and are expected to develop and practice leadership skills with the objective to create a sense of belonging, build community, educate themselves and others, and to forge positive change in their own lives and the lives of others.The Bates Leads Framework is based on the Social Change Model of leadership and includes the “7 Cs” or capacities that ultimately lead to an 8th C: Change.Consciousness of Self & Impact
Awareness of one’s beliefs, values, attitudes, and emotions; recognition that these are shaped by cultural context and other external forces. Self-awareness, including one’s inherited and positional power and privilege. Awareness of one’s impact on individuals and community, recognizing the impact of each action and inaction. Peer Mentors are most successful when they develop empathy and are able to consider the impact of their words and actions on others. As a Peer Mentor, being self-reflective, self-aware and intentional, knowing how to care for yourself and your community, creating space and access, asking for what others need, and asking for help for yourself will allow you to better support others.Congruence
Alignment of values, beliefs, attitudes, and emotions with actions in the world. Peer Mentors act with honesty and transparency while integrating their values into behavior. Peer Mentors support Mentees and other students to better understand personal values and align those with behavior.Commitment
The passion, energy, creativity, and follow-through one brings to ideas, pursuits, and collective goals. Peer Mentors develop events to address the needs of the LGBTQ+ community. Peer Mentors strive to engage, participate, follow through, persist, and be accountable, while also establishing and maintaining interpersonal boundaries, and saying “no” when necessary.
Collaboration
Working reciprocally with others. Working across differences to achieve a shared goal. Bringing multiple perspectives, diverse experiences, and individual creativity to bear on a pursuit. Peer Mentors work within the SPARQ Team and with Mentee’s to achieve shared goals. Peer Mentors listen actively and deeply, consider how power and privilege are at work and strive for equity, inclusion, and access. Peer Mentors have an awareness of and maintain good interpersonal boundaries.
Common Purpose
Cultivating a shared goal, direction, and sense of responsibility. Peer Mentors listen, learn, and act towards shared goals. Peer Mentors continually consider what is held in common. Peer Mentors strive to build consensus, share work equitable, be inclusive, and assure access. Peer Mentors work in collaboration with Mentees and other students to identify shared goals and direction for their relationship.
Controversy
Acknowledging conflict, controversy, and dissent as opportunities for new insight, or new direction or deeper relationships. Disagreeing without dehumanizing others, Peer Mentors articulate their truth, welcome different points of view, learn from differences while also protecting vulnerable populations. Peer Mentors acknowledge the fundamental humanity and dignity of those whom they disagree with.
Civic Agency
Embracing one’s capacity and responsibility to work with others to advance communal goals. Actively supporting people’s full participation in the decisions, systems, and processes that impact their lives and communities. Recognizing the impact of one’s choices on others. Peer Mentors pay careful attention to the perspectives and feelings of others and confront injustice, inequity, lack of access, and racism. Peer Mentors leverage their own privilege to effect positive change through programming and advocacy, while being sure to elevate the most marginalized voices in the community. |
The Basics
Department:Student Affairs
Supervisor:
Assistant Director of LGBTQ+ Programs
Office Location:
Chase Hall, Suite 140
Email:
adelreal@bates.edu
Hours:
8
Workers:
4
Qualifications, Requirements, and Responsibilities
Responsibilities
The SPARQ Peer Advisors will be split into 1 of 3 Peer Advisor tracks. When submitting your cover letter, please indicate which Peer Advisor role you are applying for.
General Position Specific Responsibilities
Host weekly drop-in sessions in the designated Drop-in space (up to 4 hours/week)
Serve as a mentor and advisor to student peers who are seeking support around identities and experiences as it pertains to gender and sexuality.
Help to plan, design and participate in events and outreach opportunities related to LGBTQ+ identities and experiences
Recognize and appropriately maintain anonymity and confidentiality and refer students to appropriate on-campus resources
Promote and attend SPARQ and SCBC events throughout the academic year
Work collaboratively with other SPARQ Peer Mentors, SCBC professional staff, other SCBC student staff, as well as other campus constituents
Serve as a role model and representative of SPARQ within the SCBC and across campus
Attend supervision check-ins with supervisor (minimum of 30, bi-weekly)
Attend scheduled weekly SPARQ team meetings (1 hour)
Attend and complete Bates Leads Student Leader trainings and ongoing training/personal development throughout the academic year
Role Specific Responsibilities
Collaboration & Spirit Peer Advisor
The SPARQ Collaboration & Spirit Peer Advisor is a student role that is responsible for considering intentional, unique and cross-collaborative initiatives for LGBTQ+ students across the campus. In this role, the Collaboration & Spirit Peer Advisor will think critically about what resources, both on and off campus, that will be helpful to connect LGBTQ+ students to, share the resources, and consider creative ways to get these resources to students.
Role Specific Projects:
4 educational sessions (2 each semester)
2 community speakers (1 each semester)
Sex Week Workshop (March, Winter Semester)
Education & Harmony Peer Advisor
The SPARQ Education & Harmony Peer Advisor is a student role that is responsible for recruiting, facilitating and hosting monthly community circles that are intended to bring perspective and awareness of LGBTQ+ identities and experiences. The Education & Harmony Peer Advisors will also consider a community survey and facilitate workshops with the intent to learn more about the needs of the community as it relates to gender and sexuality.
Role Specific Projects:
Monthly Advisory Board meetings (3 each semester)
Community survey/feedback form
Student Active Ally Workshop (1 each semester)
Liberation & Healing Peer Advisor
The SPARQ Liberation and Healing Peer Advisor is a student role that is responsible for creating intentional and educational opportunities that bring awareness to trans and nonbinary identities and experiences. The Liberation & Healing Peer Advisor will also be responsible for managing the Queer Closet, including creative activities to recruit items for the closet, expansion, and maintenance of its resources.
Role Specific Projects:
Queer Closet (recruitment and maintenance)
Trans Awareness Week (Week of events)
Trans Day of Remembrance (Event or speaker)
Trans Day of Visibility (Event or speaker)
Requirements
The following items are basic requirements needed to be able to work as a SPARQ Peer Mentor at Bates:
Ability to be Bates Work Authorized or already have Bates Work Authorization
Ability to work up to 8 hours per week
Enrolled as a rising Sophomore, Junior or Senior at Bates
Comfort sharing and discussing their LGBTQ+ identity with others across campus
Invested in equity, access, and anti-racism work as well as demonstrated ability to cultivate a welcoming and supportive environment for students across multiple identities
Demonstrated commitment to teamwork and collaboration
Reliability, maturity, strong organizational skills and attention to detail
Impressive interpersonal skills with excellent written, verbal and listening skills and the ability to develop and maintain collegial relationships with students, staff, faculty and community partners.
Reporting
SPARQ Peer Advisors report directly to the Assistant Director for LGBTQ+ Programs
Working Conditions
SPARQ Peer Advisors will work primarily in the Student Center for Belonging and Community (SCBC) but may be expected to attend events at other locations across campus, and occasionally off campus.