Constellations Co-Mentorship Program
Constellations is a co-mentorship program based in Ottawa that brings together Black, Indigenous, and Racialized advocates working to end gender-based violence (GBV). Grounded in intergenerational community care, transformative justice, and non-hierarchical leadership, Constellations challenges traditional models of mentorship by centering shared learning, lived experience, and mutual connection and growth.
Rather than assigning one person as the “expert” and the other as the “learner,” this program creates space for reciprocal relationships where everyone contributes, teaches, and grows. Participants build community, develop skills, and exchange strategies to collectively advance systems change, policy reform, and movement-building.
Constellations offers a supportive space for reflection, learning, and action—where emerging and experienced advocates alike can deepen their leadership while working toward a world free from GBV. By dismantling top-down approaches and nurturing collaborative, sustainable leadership, the program strengthens a network of justice-driven change-makers in Ottawa and beyond.
What to Expect
As a Constellations participant, you’ll take part in a learning journey grounded in collective leadership, intergenerational community care, and transformative justice. Through co-mentorship, shared experience, and relationship-based learning, you’ll strengthen your skills, deepen your analysis, and build meaningful connections with others committed to ending GBV. Together, we’ll explore:
Transformative Leadership & Advocacy
Leading through anti-oppressive, feminist, and decolonial frameworks
Strategies for grassroots organizing, systems change, and policy reform
The role of Black, Indigenous, and Racialized leadership in shaping GBV prevention and response
Shared Learning & Knowledge Exchange
Honouring lived experience, storytelling, and intergenerational wisdom
Cultivating reciprocal, non-hierarchical relationships
Challenging dominant power structures in leadership and activism
Gender-Based Violence & Intersectionality
Understanding the root causes and layered impacts of GBV
Exploring how GBV intersects with racism, colonialism, ableism, and other systems of oppression
Practicing trauma-informed, harm-reduction-based approaches to support and advocacy
Practical Skills for Advocacy & Leadership
Developing facilitation, public speaking, and community engagement strategies
Navigating burnout and fostering sustainability through collective care
Using tools for effective advocacy in policy, media, and grassroots organizing
Strengthening the Movement
Building networks of solidarity and support within Ottawa’s advocacy landscape
Understanding relationship-building as a form of resistance and resilience
Co-creating long-term, community-led, and transformative change
Program Commitment and Outline
Constellations is designed to offer meaningful connection without overwhelming your schedule. The core of the program includes:
Four biweekly sessions (3 hours each) on Thursday evenings. These sessions include a mix of workshops, dialogue, skill-sharing, and reflective practices rooted in collective care and transformative justice.
Between sessions, co-mentorship pairs will be encouraged to connect in organic ways—whether that means meeting for coffee, co-working, or simply exchanging resources and encouragement.
The program concludes with a celebratory community feast and participant show-and-tell, where we’ll gather in person to reflect, honour each other’s growth, and share what we’ve learned or created.
Sign Up Now!
This program is open to Black, Indigenous, and Racialized people of all genders living in or near Ottawa. Whether you're drawn to the program as a mentor, mentee, or both—there's a place for you in Constellations!
Click here to fill out the registration form – It only takes a few minutes and helps us get to know you better.
Questions?
Thinking about joining but not sure in what way? Connect with Khadija at khadija@octevaw-cocvff.ca — we’d love to support you in in finding the role that feels right for you!