Your Commitment to the Circle
1. Why This Agreement Exists
The Griot Project is built on trust, presence, and accountability. This Community Agreement is the commitment you make to your circle — your mentor, your fellow mentees, and the staff who hold this space for you. It is what keeps the work real.
2. Show Up
- Complete your weekly check-in honestly and on time.
- Respond to your mentor within a reasonable window — generally within 48 hours.
- If you can't meet a commitment, communicate before the deadline, not after.
3. Communicate With Respect
- Speak to mentors, staff, and other mentees with the respect you expect for yourself.
- No language that demeans another person's race, gender, sexuality, religion, or background.
- Disagreement is welcome. Disrespect is not.
4. Confidentiality
What is shared inside the circle stays inside the circle. Do not share another mentee's story, struggles, or personal information outside the program without their permission.
Exception: program staff are mandatory reporters under North Carolina law. Disclosures involving abuse, intent to harm self or others, or domestic violence will be reported to appropriate authorities.
5. Honesty
Be honest in your check-ins, your goals, and your conversations with your mentor. This program only works if the picture you share is real.
6. Safety
- No threats, harassment, or violence — in person, in messages, or anywhere else.
- No sexually explicit content on the Platform.
- If you are in crisis, tell your mentor or staff immediately. You are not alone.
7. Use the Platform as Intended
- Use Your Circle to engage with the program — check-ins, goals, mentor messages, career direction.
- Do not use the Platform to sell, promote, or recruit for anything unrelated to the program.
- Do not share your account with anyone.
8. AI-Assisted Career Direction
Your career direction report is drafted with AI assistance and reviewed and approved by your mentor before you see it. Treat it as a starting point for your conversation with your mentor — not as a final answer.
9. When You Need to Step Away
Life happens. If you need to pause your participation, tell your mentor or staff. We will work with you. Disappearing without communication makes it harder for everyone — including the next mentee who could be in your spot.
10. Consequences
Violations of this Agreement may result in a conversation, a formal warning, or removal from the program — depending on severity. Conduct that endangers another participant will result in immediate removal and may be reported to authorities.
11. Your Commitment
By signing this Agreement, you commit to showing up for the work, for your mentor, and for the brothers in your circle. This is not paperwork. This is your word.
This agreement is signed electronically during onboarding by all program participants.