Click to learn more about mentoring with PEAK

Who should apply?

PEAK mentors come from all walks of life and reflect the diverse landscape of Chicago. We welcome mentors from various sectors, including corporate, nonprofit, government, and education, entrepreneurs, as well as retired individuals. Ideal PEAK mentors are collaborative, innovative, and committed to making a meaningful impact. They are action-oriented, creative, humble, and demonstrate personal responsibility and integrity.

PEAK is an inclusive organization that embraces diversity across all dimensions. We actively seek mentors who represent the wide spectrum of race, ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, national origin, age, marital status, disability, and veteran status that defines our region.

  • Live in the Greater Chicago area.
  • Be a stable professional, or retired professional, able to commit to a four-year mentoring relationship with a scholar.
  • Possess strong leadership qualities and a commitment to helping young people succeed.
  • Have a history of volunteering or community engagement, with a passion for mentoring and empowering youth.
  • Demonstrate a clear willingness and ability to dedicate the time, energy, and resources to the PEAK mentoring program and your relationship with your scholar.

Mentorship + Scholarship = Graduation

Mentor Commitment and Expectations

Time Commitment

Mentors commit to work with a scholar 1:1 over the course of their four years in high school.

Monthly Engagement

PEAK recommends mentors spend about four hours with their scholar each month in person.

Communication

Regular communication via phone calls, text messages, or email keeps the relationship going in between those visits.

Mentor + Scholar Events

PEAK hosts 4-6 mentor/scholar events each year to foster the mentoring relationship which are mandatory for scholars and mentors to attend.

4 Simple Steps

Application Process

4 steps to get you on your way to changing someone’s life and changing yours as well.

Written Application

Tell us a little about yourself and why you want to be a mentor.

Interview

Help us learn more about you and what’s important to you.

Reference Checks

Let others tell us how great you are.

Background Checks

Federal Background and State of Illinois Children and Family Services Child Abuse Check

Mentor Support

Education

Mentor Orientation takes place in September at the beginning of the school year to prepare mentors for their new role.

Mentor Conference Calls

Mentors have the option to call in for 30 minutes to learn about a pressing mentoring topic with a guest speaker.

Mentor Retreats

Held twice a year, these provide an in-depth presentation on a mentoring topic followed by a facilitated conversation with other PEAK mentors and are mandatory for mentors to attend.

PEAK Quotes

what people are saying

The sentiments are nearly universal. The connections formed and nurtured through PEAK, are life changing.

Being a PEAK mentor isn’t just about getting involved or sharing insight with a young person – it’s also about learning and growing as an adult. Growing together with someone else is what life is all about, and PEAK creates the time and space for that to happen.

Kevin Golden – PEAK mentor Alum

For me, it was just so gratifying to see where Jocelyn started out as a freshman to where she left as a senior. The growth that I saw in her, the confidence that I saw in her; it really was what I was after in becoming a mentor.

Kirti Patel – PEAK Mentor Alum