Be the Support You Once Needed: Mentor in AAPI Recovery

Your journey can inspire others—become a mentor and help guide someone in the AAPI community toward lasting sobriety.

BECOME A MENTOR

The AAPI community faces unique barriers to recovery, including cultural stigma, immense family pressure, and the tendency to suffer in silence. The AIR Mentor Program is a vital resource that directly addresses this gap.

Why We Need You

The Mentor's Role & Commitment

The Mentor Program is built on peer support and shared experience. Mentors provide encouragement, guidance, and a living example of long-term recovery.

Your Role

Provide Support

Act as a trusted, relatable peer in recovery.

Share experience

Offer your personal journey and insights to encourage your mentee

Set Boundaries

Understand and maintain the distinction between a mentor relationship and professional counseling, therapy, or sponsorship.

Your commitment

duration

Approximately 2-4 hours per week for a commitment of about three months per mentee match, with the option to extend if both parties wish to continue.

matching

You will be carefully matched with a mentee based on shared experiences and recovery goals.

Meetings

Meet virtually (or in-person, if local) with your mentee once a week for about one hour.

A Day in the Life of an AIR Mentor

The core of the mentor relationship is consistency and connection. Here is what a typical week might look like:

  1. Prep: Check your email for new matches and coordinate your weekly check-in with your mentee.

  2. Connect: Use your dedicated AIR virtual meeting link for a one-hour video call. Focus on listening, share your personal experience as appropriate, and offer positive encouragement.

  3. Reflect: Log meeting notes to AIR’s mentor hub, check in with the AIR team, or connect with peers for optional guidance and sharing.

  4. Repeat: Maintain ongoing, light text or email communication between sessions, offering brief motivation or checking in on your mentee’s progress.

hOW AIR SUPPORTS YOU

We are committed to supporting our mentors every step of the way. To ensure you feel prepared and connected, AIR provides:

  • Confidentiality Agreement

    We require a signed Confidentiality Agreement for all participants to ensure a private and safe space for sharing.

  • Comprehensive Training

    Mentors receive comprehensive orientation training, covering program guidelines, communication best practices, and effective boundary setting.

  • Direct Conflict Guidance

    We provide a dedicated contact to offer confidential, one-on-one guidance if a conflict or sensitive issue arises in your mentoring relationship.

  • Monthly Mentor Meetings

    A dedicated, virtual space to connect with peers, share experiences, and receive ongoing program guidance. (aprox. 1 Hour, Optional)

  • Special Events and Workshops

    Opportunities to volunteer or participate in community events.

Am I a Good Fit?

Beyond the core requirements, AIR mentors share key qualities that drive the success of our program:

A Solid Foundation

You have maintained at least one year of continuous sobriety and feel stable and confident in your own recovery journey.

Cultural Empathy

You are prepared to offer support that is culturally informed and sensitive to the unique pressures faced by AAPI individuals.

Passion for Peer Support

You genuinely want to connect, listen without judgment, and share your experience to help someone else feel seen.

Commitment to Boundaries

You understand that your role is a peer-to-peer mentor, not a sponsor or therapist, and you are ready to uphold the program's guidelines and confidentiality agreement.

Why Mentor?

The Impact You'll Make

We understand you're dedicating valuable time to this program. Here's the direct impact your mentorship will have:

  • Elevate Your Own Recovery

    Supporting another person is a powerful way to reinforce your personal commitment to sobriety, growth, and the community.

  • Offer Culturally-Informed Support

    Help mentees navigate recovery while honoring their cultural identity and values, providing guidance that resonates on a deeper level.

  • Bridge the Gap in Representation

    Many AAPI individuals struggle to see themselves reflected in recovery spaces. Your presence and lived experience create a crucial sense of belonging and encouragement.

  • Challenge Stigma & Break the Silence

    Your story is your greatest tool. By sharing it, you directly confront cultural stigma and show others that recovery is possible and valid within AAPI communities.

Frequently asked questions

  • You must be 18 years or older, identify as AAPI, have at least one year of continuous sobriety, and have a desire to help others through empathy and lived experience.

  • No. While some mentors may participate in 12-step programs, it’s not required. AIR’s mentoring focuses on shared experience and emotional support, not a specific recovery path.

  • Matches are based on preferences such as age, gender, nationality, and recovery goals whenever possible to ensure cultural understanding and comfort.

  • Yes. AIR mentors volunteer their time to support others in recovery.3 The true reward is helping someone feel seen, understood, and encouraged on their path to healing.

  • We ask mentors to commit for about three months per mentee match, with the option to continue if both parties wish to extend.


  • Life happens. If you need to take a break, simply notify the AIR team. We’ll work with you to ensure a smooth transition for your mentee.

Next Steps to Become an AIR MentoR

Your experience is your strength. By becoming a mentor, you directly impact someone’s journey toward lasting recovery and help foster a stronger, more connected Asian recovery community.

Ready to take the next step? Click the application link below.

Apply Now