Visit Bentonville[1], the tourism and promotions agency of Bentonville, recently established community mentorship program Belong Bentonville, according to a news release.
The new program “is designed to reflect the city’s trademark hospitality – not just to visitors but to the people who call Bentonville home,” the release shows. The program is expected to help newcomers and residents “feel more at home by connecting with knowledgeable local mentors with new or recently relocated neighbors.”
Belong Bentonville is not a career-focused mentorship program but is focused on personal connection, sharing knowledge and making friends. The aim is to help residents make connections and feel a sense of belonging.
“Hospitality is at the heart of Bentonville. It’s who we are,” said Kalene Griffith, president and CEO of Visit Bentonville. “We welcome visitors to our city, and we’re excited to extend that welcome to new neighbors. Belong Bentonville is about opening doors, pulling up a chair and making sure every person feels they have a place here.”
Residents can apply online to be a mentor or mentee at visitbentonville.com/community/belong-bentonville. Participants will be matched based on their shared interests, goals and experiences.
Griffith said the hope is to start with 100 to 150 mentors and increase that number as mentees sign up. The first cohort is set to launch this fall, but she said the timeline for the cohort is open-ended.
“Some connections may run their course after just a few meetups, while others might continue to grow for months or even years,” Griffith said. “The goal is simple: to spark meaningful connection and foster a lasting sense of belonging, because when people feel seen and rooted in something bigger than themselves, we’re all better.”
Mentors are those who’ve lived here for at least one year, who are familiar with Bentonville and want to help others find their place. Mentees are newcomers seeking to become involved in the community.
Related
References
- ^ Visit Bentonville (www.visitbentonville.com)