Introducing the Spring 2024 Peer Mentoring Class

By Christopher Chantson
Vice President of Institutional Advancement, National Louis University
Co-Chair, AFP Chicago Peer Mentoring Committee

The Peer Mentoring Committee is delighted to have recently welcomed the Spring 2024 Class of 15 pairs of protégés and mentors who will connect over the next 12 months for partnership, conversation, career exploration, networking, and growth. Program participants represent a range of nonprofit sectors, including arts and culture, human services, education, healthcare, community development and consulting. Collectively, the mentors in this class have 306 years of professional development experience – an average of 19 years per mentor.

The class convened for a virtual kick-off on Friday, April 5 where they learned more about the program and how they were matched, as well as best practices for a successful peer mentoring relationship. During their year-long participation in the program, protégés will meet with their mentors at least monthly to discuss their goals and career-related questions and attend optional programs that include discussion groups and networking opportunities.

Listed in order of protégé and mentor, the Spring 2024 Class members are:

• Alex Benjamin, Luminarts, and Mary Jane Keitel, MJ Consults
• Sam Grobart, The HAP Foundation, and George Rattin, Rosalind Franklin University
• Emily Jensen, and Melanie Dykstra, Dominican University
• Felicia Jia, KAN-WIN, and Kitty Snow, University of Illinois-Urbana Champaign
• Chelsey Jones Bazuro, The People's Music School, and Luke Wilcox, Window to the World Communications, Inc.
• Casey Kaldahl, LIFT-Chicago, and Meg Ahlering, Smile Train
• Ida Kuruvilla, Chicago Abortion Fund, and Deirdre Harrison, CFRE, SitStayRead
• Fallon Leyba, Gads Hill Center, and Randi Frank, R Frank 4 Words
• Patrick Maloney, Teach for America, and Ray Crosland, CFRE, Ter Molen Watkins & Brandt
• Maggie McMahon, Make-A-Wish Illinois, and Kristin Raack, CFRE, AltruNext
• Linda Napikoski, PODER, and Lisa Schiro, CFRE, The Geneva Foundation of Presbyterian Homes
• Emily Pasteris Fouts, UIC College of Nursing, and Jenna Plakut, Rush University Health System
• Celeste Stewart, AAPD Foundation, and Kathy Slaughter, Consultant
• Molly Swayze, National Kidney Foundation of Illinois, and Lillian Bui, CFRE, Association House of Chicago
• Linda Zhang, Auditorium Theatre, and Lauren Ranson, Lolly Consulting

Thank you to all participants, including the Peer Mentoring Committee members who reviewed applications, and who support our protégé-mentor pairs and facilitate the additional program opportunities. We wish everyone a fantastic experience over the next year.

Applications for the Fall 2024 class will open this summer, with a deadline of September 20. For more information, please visit the Peer Mentoring webpage, or contact Christopher Chantson or Jennifer Dettloff, Committee Co-Chairs.

Thank You to our Sponsors