Peer Mentor

About Enlace Chicago:
Enlace Chicago convenes, organizes, and strengthens the capacity of stakeholders across Little Village to confront systemic inequities and expand access to economic and social opportunity. For more than 35 years, Enlace has served as a trusted community anchor—championing opportunity, improving lives, and building partnerships that drive lasting change.

Through our work, we advance community health, protect human rights, empower futures, promote safety, and foster resilience for families throughout Little Village. Our core departments—Education, Community Safety, Mental Health, Community Health, and Immigration & Advocacy—deliver critical, culturally responsive services that uplift and support the strength and dignity of our community.

Position Overview:

The Little Village Education Collaborative (LVEC) and Enlace Chicago are looking for 2nd, 3rd or 4th year college students who will serve as a Peer Mentor for first year college students primarily at Harold Washington College, Malcolm X College, Richard J Daley College, University of Illinois in Chicago, National Louis University, Northeastern Illinois University and other post-secondary institutions. The Peer Mentor will act as a guide for their mentees as they navigate their first year of college.

Provide academic and social/ emotional support for students by regularly checking in with their mentees and referring them to resources within their college/ university, Enlace Chicago, or other organizations. The Peer Mentor will also work to build a safe community space for their mentees, including planning social activities/ workshops and group check ins.

Key Responsibilities:

Mentoring and Referrals Be their mentees first friend and guide in college. This means regularly communicating with their mentee,being friendly, supportive of their mentee's goals/achievements and answering questions they may have about navigating their college/ university.

Support mentee with any academic/social issues they may have by referring them to resources as needed within their college/university, Enlace Chicago or other institutions.

Make sure mentees are meeting with their academic advisor

Organizing and Communication Maintain regular communication with their mentees via text message, email, social media, phone call, in person, or other methods they find best.
1-2 meetings per month with their mentees. Meetings are defined as social activities, workshops and group check-ins with all their mentees that are planned and hosted by the Peer Mentor OR activities/ events hosted by the College/University.

At least 30 min monthly 1:1 meetings with each mentee to talk more in depth about college, academics, successes and struggles they may be facing.

Accountability Regularly communicate and update the College & Career Pipeline Advocate about students in their cohort.

Attend and be on time to all Peer Mentor meetings, professional development opportunities, team building activities and celebrations.

Work up to 20 hours per week.

Support in collecting all required data from mentees

Core Competencies:

Strategic Leadership Motivate, inspire and guide mentees to persist in school.

Think beyond immediate needs and make a sustainable plan with each mentee on what they can do to avoid any future challenges.

Social awareness and relationship building

Be able to understand others’ perspectives and backgrounds to build strong relationships.

Critical Thinking and Problem Solving Analyze situations that their mentees are facing, identify issues or problems, and work to develop solutions to better support their cohort.

Attention to detail and to what their mentees are sharing to find the best support Innovation and Creativity.

Being able to generate new ideas, and share them with others during planning meetings. Be creative and always think outside the box.

Public Speaking Communicate effectively to a group, facilitate workshops, and lead activities.

Additional Qualifications:

3.0 GPA (good academic standing)
Currently enrolled in College/University (2nd, 3rd, or 4th year)
At least, has taken 30 credits

Lives in Little Village OR graduated from a Little Village high school

Fully…