iMentor believes every student needs a champion. And in Chicago, it’s helping high school students achieve their dreams by connecting them with a one-to-one mentor who can help them navigate college admissions, find a job in the trades, or any other career ambitious they’re seeking.
iMentor works by matching high school juniors and seniors with a dedicated mentor. The 25-year-old non-profit launched in Chicago a decade ago and to date has worked with 4,000 students in Chicago, predominantly on the South and West sides.
What began in 2015 as a partnership with a single high school has blossomed into a movement, expanding into its sixth Chicago high school this year. This upcoming school year, iMentor will be working with 1,200 active Chicago high school students across its six schools.
“Bringing in new additional adults into the lives of young folks can open up a world of new opportunity,” said Eric Barbour (pictured), iMentor’s regional chief of staff.
iMentor, which recently moved its Chicago offices to TeamWorking by TechNexus, our shared office space in the Civic Opera Building, matches every 11th and 12th grade student in its partner schools with a mentor. The students also participate in a post-secondary class led by iMentor staff, with a curriculum that covers a wide range of pathways, including college, career, scholarships, military service, and trade programs. This dual approach of one-to-one mentorship and curriculum ensures that students not only get the information they need but also have a dedicated adult to help them navigate their unique journey.
iMentor matches each of its students and mentors by hand. The two are matched together for two years, with the option of continuing the relationship through the first two years of college.
Nearly 80% of the students iMentor works with are the first in their families to attend college, Barbour said, and having a dedicated mentor to help them navigate that process can be incredibly beneficial. But beyond helping with admissions and other college-ready resources, mentors also tap their networks to connect students to professionals in their desired field.
One mentee was dead-set on becoming a pilot, so her mentor scoured her LinkedIn connections to find a warm intro. That eventually led the student to meeting someone in Chicago with a flight simulator whose mission is to get more young black and brown kids from Chicago interested in aviation.
Another student, a mentee of Barbour, was interested in welding. Barbour found a LinkedIn connection who was in the industry and helped set the student up for a career in welding.
iMentor sources its mentors from corporations, community connections and word of mouth. At TeamWorking, Barbour said iMentor benefits by being able to connect with dozens of Chicago tech firms that can serve as potential mentors for its program.
“We have been here less than two months and we are already building, connecting and moving,” he said. "We're excited to be able to formally connect with some of the companies represented here … We are literally just weeks in and already feeling part of the family.”
Image credit: Eric Barbour/imentor