When you come out of the storm, you won't be the same person that walked in. That's what the storm is all about.
-Haruki Murakami

Our why

The story of the buffalo’s resilience offers a powerful metaphor for how we face life’s challenges. In the central United States, the Rocky Mountains serve as a natural dividing line between Colorado to the west and the expansive plains of Kansas to the east. This unique landscape is home to both cattle and buffalo, two animals with very different instincts when faced with adversity.

When storms roll in from the west, cattle tend to flee eastward in an attempt to outrun the weather. Unfortunately, due to their slower pace, they end up prolonging their exposure to the storm’s intensity, enduring its worst effects. Buffalo, on the other hand, respond differently. Rather than running from the storm, they charge directly into it. By facing the storm head-on, they reduce the duration of their struggle and minimize the overall impact.

Buffalo instinctively understand what many of us learn the hard way: avoiding hardship often leads to greater suffering, while confronting it directly builds strength and resilience. In many ways, people are much like cattle or buffalo—some run from their struggles, while others face them with courage and purpose.

Into the Storm Mentorship: Built for Resilience

The Into the Storm mentorship program was created with this lesson in mind. Our goal is to foster a safe, supportive environment where individuals feel empowered to speak openly about personal challenges. We believe in building community through connection—where no one feels ashamed to admit they’re struggling, and everyone knows they’re not alone.

We do this through informal gatherings—whether once a month or more frequently—where the emphasis is on genuine connection, not clinical formality. These meet-ups are intended to feel more like a casual “check-up from the neck up,” offering a space to talk, listen, and lean on one another.

Sometimes, something as simple as a cup of coffee and an honest conversation can make all the difference. The question we ask is simple: will you run from the storm, or will you run into it?

Be like the buffalo. Face it head-on. You don’t have to do it alone.

About us

Into the Storm Mentorship is a peer-driven organization founded in 2023 by a group of like-minded individuals committed to servant leadership and the development of others. Born from a conversation around the firehouse kitchen table—where some of the fire service’s best ideas take shape—this initiative was created in response to the growing need for meaningful, peer-to-peer mentorship and support, particularly in the aftermath of emotionally challenging incidents. Our mission is to build resilience, foster growth, and ensure that no one walks through the storm alone.

Get Started