Lion's Pride Mentoring, Inc, named Pride initially, was piloted in 2017 by teacher and education advocate Sean Healy. While working at Baker College Prep in South Chicago, Healy noticed a concerning trend in student retention. Although Baker had outstanding academic results and college acceptance rates, the school struggled with freshman retention rates, averaging less than 60%.
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Inspired by the University of Chicago's research on the To and Through initiative, Healy decided it was time to invest in students' ability to be the change they wished to see in their schools. Simultaneously, Healy noticed an issue with upperclassmen. Namely, upperclassmen felt disempowered as leaders in the school. Lion's Pride sought to solve both of these problems at once. ​By investing in our upperclassmen student leaders, we developed essential college and career skills they would need to make a positive impact in the world. 

​These leaders then act as positive role models through daily peer mentoring for freshmen, and are able to connect in a completely unique way; this mirror of success helps freshmen create positive identities throughout high school necessary to achieving their goals.

​​After Healy identified the problem and solution, the program made its first hire, Jasmine Gilstrap, who was integral in creating and executing the curriculum for Lion's Pride. Due to her relentless pursuit of excellence and results, the program took off. As other schools heard about Lion's Pride, the program expanded.
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Witnessing the pilot program's success at Baker College Prep and other schools, Healy and Gilstrap decided it was essential to take the next step. To reach beyond Baker's walls to Chicago's broader city, Lion's Pride became a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization in September 2019. Gilstrap and Healy are both tireless advocates in education equity and through their leadership, Lion's Pride has reached countless students with outstanding results.