2024
A Better Chicago
2024
“Thanks to this grant from The Cigna Group Foundation, we will be able to increase the reach of our programming that fosters social-emotional skills and mental well-being in students throughout Chicago.,” said Jasmine Gilstrap Hunter, of Lion’s Pride Mentoring. “Our efforts are addressing the youth mental health crisis by providing students with a space to connect and gain skills to help them cope with the challenges they face. We are grateful to have The Cigna Group Foundation’s support in our mission to keep more 9th graders on track to graduate high school and eventually cultivate economic sustainability.”
2022
“At Lion’s Pride, we harness that power of the older students; the influence and the power of mentorship, through our innovative curriculum we partner with high schools here in Chicago to train their 11th and 12th graders…just like adult lion’s in a pride, our student mentors support their mentee in developing positive habits and continuing the legacy of their community.”
2021
“A $475,000 grant will help Lion’s Pride expand its unique mentoring program, now in three schools, to five. The program supports high school freshmen, pairing them with juniors and seniors who get leadership training.”
2020
“Through this [Lion’s Pride] role, I have been able to learn more about the internal structure of nonprofits. After being a volunteer in a variety of nonprofits for several years, I am eager to learn about the “business” side of nonprofits. In this role, I am aiding the Executive Director in a variety of tasks such as grant applications, social media development, website creation, and reaching out to local sponsors to help us raise money. As you can see, it is quite a mixed bag of tasks and to-dos– and I love it! “
2019
“ The PRIDE “Bigs” Professional Development panel was created as a way to develop leadership skills for the student mentors, “Bigs.” This panel allowed students to hear the stories of professionals who look like them and discuss how they were able to overcome trials and tribulations in their lives on their journey to achieve their success. The panel focused on topics that included college selection, how they transitioned from high school to college, and the importance of mentorship.”