Damien Howard and Laine Klopfenstein from our Education focus area recently attended MENTOR’s National Mentoring Summit in Washington, DC, a national gathering that brings together mentoring practitioners and partners to share best practices and deepen impact. The 2026 Summit ran February 5–6 and featured professional learning, networking, and practical sessions for the field.
For Damien and Laine, the Summit was a powerful space to connect with mentoring leaders from across the country, trade notes on what’s working, and engage honestly around shared challenges. Together Chicago is excited to bring those lessons home as we continue investing in high-quality, community-centered mentoring for young people across our city. Learn how our mentorship works here.