Peer Mentor

About Enlace Chicago:

Enlace Chicago convenes, organizes and builds the capacity of stakeholders of Little Village to confront systemic inequities and barriers to economic and social access. The organization is dedicated to making a positive difference in the lives of Little Village residents by fostering a safe and healthy environment and by championing opportunities for educational advancement and economic development. It is committed to accountability and transparency to ensure integrity, believes in building community power through collaboration and grassroots leadership, promotes livable communities with access and opportunity for all, and values social justice and systems change. Currently, our Education, Community Safety, Clinical Services, Community Health, and Immigration and Advocacy Departments work to provide vital services and support to the very valuable residents of the Little Village 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. They will communicate with students via text message, email, social media, phone call, in person, or other methods preferred by their mentee.

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 minutes 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 Bilingual in English and Spanish (speak, read, and write)

Compensation: $18/hour

Our Commitment to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion:

At Enlace Chicago, we are deeply committed to fostering a diverse, equitable, and inclusive environment where all voices are heard and valued. We believe that diverse perspectives are essential to addressing the complex social challenges we seek to solve, and we strive to create a culture that promotes belonging, respect, and opportunity for all. Our mission is rooted in uplifting the stories of those who have been historically marginalized, and we actively work to ensure that our programs, partnerships, and workplace reflect these values. We welcome individuals from all backgrounds and encourage candidates who share our passion for social justice, equity, and inclusion to apply.

Enlace Chicago is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All applicants will be considered for employment without attention to

race, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran or disability status.

Deadline for submission: Open until filled.