by Kenneth Semien Sr.
The ACB INSPIRE Mentoring Program enters its third year of providing mentorship, access and peer support during the fall of 2025. The leadership development program designed exclusively for prospective leaders is a nine-month exploration of learning and grasping new concepts. Online applications will be accepted from July 18th through August 18th. The 2025-2026 cohort will be selected by September 1st, and the program year will begin on September 18th. Activities will conclude on June 16, 2026. The program culminates with a virtual graduation ceremony during the virtual week of the ACB Conference and Convention.
INSPIRE refers to “Imagine, Nurture, Support, Prepare, Influence, Reflect, and Evolve.” The ACB INSPIRE mentoring program serves as a roadmap and places an emphasis on aiding and guiding potential leaders to expand their involvement at the local, state and/or national level. Members are urged to apply to become a Guide/Mentor or Explorer/Mentee.
The INSPIRE Experience includes an introductory Guide-Explorer meet and greet; informative orientation training; personalized Guide-Explorer team meetings; interactive quarterly check point meetings; empowerment segments with leaders of the blindness community, as well as other collaborative partnerships; optional office hours feedback sessions; support meetings with the ACB INSPIRE Mentoring Team; sharing of inspirational books, articles, poems, quotes, and other material from the INSPIRE Library; participant communication on the designated ACB INSPIRE email list; and the end of program evaluation survey.
To serve as a Guide or mentor, applicants must be an ACB member for seven years or more; current on membership dues; have at least five years of confirmed leadership experience within ACB, one of its affiliates or chapters; submit name and contact information for a reference during their initial application to the program; have personal knowledge of ACB’s history, mission, purpose, and core values; agree to meet with designated Explorer/mentee at least twice a month; conduct effective goal-setting meetings with a designated Explorer/mentee; agree to keep all communication with Explorer/mentee private and confidential; agree to attend and participate in scheduled group empowerment sessions, including quarterly check point meetings and optional office hours feedback sessions; agree to submit a monthly report to the ACB Mentoring Team on Guide-Explorer progress; and agree to complete an end-of-program evaluation.
To qualify as an Explorer or mentee, applicants must be an ACB member for at least two years (membership in an ACB state or special-interest affiliate, or chapter, is applicable); current on membership dues; demonstrate an eagerness to learn and grow; faithfully attend and participate in goal-setting sessions with a designated guide/mentor; agree to meet with Guide/mentor at least twice a month; agree to attend and participate in group empowerment sessions, including quarterly check point meetings and optional office hours feedback sessions; agree to submit a monthly report to the ACB Mentoring Team on Guide-Explorer progress; and agree to complete an end of program evaluation.
Now is the time to strongly consider becoming a Guide or Explorer! Just submit an application for consideration by 11:59 p.m. Eastern time on August 18th. The link to the application will be placed in the “Dots and Dashes” newsletter, on various email lists, and on www.acb.org beginning on July 18th. Contact us by sending email to acb.mentoring@gmail.com.