Building Belonging

This National Mentoring Month, we want to share a story from Pedro, one of our professional mentors, about a recent outing with one of the youth he works with here at Friends of the Children – Twin Cities.

After a visit to the local library, Filip* and Pedro were hungry. They’ve been intentionally working on limiting fast-food, so Pedro had the idea to visit the Hmong marketplace instead. As Pedro describes it, “I thought it could be a fun way to explore something different while staying connected to his culture.” When they walked into the marketplace, Filip’s face lit up. Pedro watched as his excitement grew with every step and each new smell. After some time wandering the aisles and taking it all in, Filip turned to Pedro and said, “I want to eat everything in here!” Pedro says he couldn’t help but laugh and reply, “You know what? I do too!”

Pedro and Filip continued looking at all the stalls, and Pedro asked Filip if he could pick out a few things he liked to bring home and share with his family. Filip took his time making his choices, looking over all the options first. Pedro says he could tell that “Filip wasn’t just picking randomly – he was genuinely excited about the foods and what they meant. What struck me most about this experience was how much he seemed to take pride in what he was seeing. It wasn’t just about the food—it was about the people, the environment, the sense of belonging.”

“Watching him light up as he connected with his culture was such a powerful moment. Seeing members of his community thriving in their own space, sharing their traditions, and celebrating their heritage was something I knew would leave an impression on him. For me, it was a reminder of how important it is to create these moments for our kids. It’s not just about learning new things—it’s about helping them see the beauty in who they are and where they come from. Filip walked out of that marketplace not just with food, but with a little more pride in his heart. It’s experiences like this that fuel me to keep doing this work. Moments where you see a child light up, connect, and grow. Those are the ones that matter most.”

Thank you, Pedro, for sharing this experience about what it looks like to be a Friend: a professional mentor walking alongside and empowering youth to thrive as they write their own stories.

*Youth name changed to protect privacy.