School-Based Mentoring Model Marks One Year

August 21, 2025

Many young people in Chicago could benefit from having a trusted adult in their lives to spend time with.

That’s where Mercy Home’s Friends First mentoring program can help. Friends First pairs children with positive adult role models who help them build healthy social and relational skills, boost their sense of self-worth, foster their growth, listen to their needs, and have fun together.

Last fall, Mercy Home launched a new school-based mentoring program at Rowe Middle School, located in Chicago’s West Town neighborhood. The program begins in October and ends the first week of June. Mentors are paired with Rowe students, and sessions are facilitated by Friends First staff twice a month on Tuesday afternoons.

“Our school-based program is a one-to one mentoring model with a group dynamic,” said Friends First Program Manager Katie Gunter. “All the mentor has to do is show up and be ready to support their mentee.”

The sessions typically begin with an ice breaker activity to make everyone feel comfortable and get to know each other better. After the icebreaker, mentors are given a topic to discuss with their mentee, which helps foster a deeper connection.

Participants enjoy a variety of activities throughout the year, such as mindfulness and yoga, a self-soothing strategy game called the Road to Regulation, and even service projects. For example, participants made hygiene kits for people with unstable housing in Chicago.

Overall, Mercy Home’s Friends First mentoring program had a positive effect on the students. Sebastian, a Friends First mentee, has learned the importance of setting goals and striving to achieve them. “My mentor encourages me to chase after my goals and helps me,” Sebastian said.

Robin Di Buono, a Friends First Mentor, has developed an unbreakable bond with her mentee, Emi, enjoying laughs and fun together.

“[The Friends First mentoring program] is a great experience,” Di Buono said. “It really broadens your world, and it makes you feel like you’re contributing to someone who might need a little bit of extra support or energy or fun in their life.”  

Emi has gained a newfound confidence since the mentoring program and has her mentor to thank.

“My favorite thing about Friends First mentoring is that mentoring helps me feel more confident, and my mentor is very nice and kind,” she said. 

Her mother, Celia, has seen a positive shift in her daughter’s attitude since having a mentor.

“Friends First mentoring has helped my daughter so much with her self-esteem and coming out of her shell while she’s at school,” she said. “She shares with me more [and is] so thrilled to share everything that she talks about with her mentor.  I definitely recommend [Friends First]. My daughter is thriving.”

Joe Staud, a Friends First mentor, joined the program to give back. Through his participation, he developed a strong bond with his mentee and saw the level of impact the program had on everyone.

“Friends First has done a great job of structuring the whole program,” Staud said. “[The kids] can come here, enjoy themselves, feel safe, and be a kid. You see progress every other week in terms of the bonding between mentor and mentee. When you walk in the door you see a bright smile on all their faces and there really excited about the afternoon and that just makes it all the better.”

Ramon Fernandez became a Friends First mentor because he wanted to do something good for his community and believed in the cause.

“Being a Friends First mentor and its rewards are unlimited,” Fernandez said. “[Friends First staff have] been very helpful in guiding the activities that we need to do and how structured it is. I’m excited about what this program becomes. There’s a real impact there. People should be willing and activity trying to partake in this opportunity when they can.”

Emi wants everyone who’s interested in becoming a Friends First mentor to know that it will be a fun experience and it’s worth it.

“It’s really fun, you should try it out,” Emi said. “They will help you feel more confident, make you feel happy, and it will be really fun.”

If you would like to become a Friends First mentor and make a difference in a young person’s life, sign up at  mercyhome.org/friends-first-mentoring/, or email Katie Gunter at katgun@mercyhome.org. for more information.