IT TAKES LITTLE TO BE BIG Written by Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Iowa CEO- Bridget Cravens-Neely Entering this new year is special for our organization. Every January is National Mentoring Month. As the premier youth mentoring organization, Big Brothers Big Sisters across the country are celebrating the work we do, the people we support (our Bigs), and those we serve (our Littles) in our respective communities. BBBS of Central Iowa is excited to be featured in this month’s Urban Experience Magazine to highlight the who, what, when, where, and how of our agency. For more than 50 years, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Iowa (BBBSCI) has been dedicated to serving youth (Littles) by matching them with caring and dependable adults (Bigs) in Polk, Dallas, and Warren counties. By partnering with parents/guardians, volunteers, and others in the community, BBBSCI works to ensure each child achieves higher aspirations, greater confidence, and better relationships. This is why we celebrate National Mentoring Month. It allows us to elevate and amplify the importance of mentoring through advocacy and celebration. Throughout January, BBBSCI will spotlight our Bigs by showering them with Thanks for all they do. We encourage our Littles and their families to show their appreciation of our Bigs as well. We welcome the opportunity to speak about the power of mentorship at company events, business meetings, and lunch-and-learns. We will also host our annual Big Little Game Show on January 11th when we invite the community to witness the impact of mentoring firsthand (keep reading this article for more details). Youth in our community have faced tremendous challenges over the last 18+ months, making them even more susceptible to risky behaviors that can affect their future. While mentoring is not the only solution, it is a critical part of the solution. Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Iowa is committed to serving our youth by creating and supporting one-to-one mentoring relationships that ignites the power and promise of these youth. We are determined to find caring adults to help every youth reach their full potential. In the following pages you will read about some of our outcomes like helping 13 of our Littles graduate high school, launching two new programs to reach more youth who need and want our services, expanding our team to reach more adults in the community who are willing to answer the call to serve, and offering more subsidized or free match activities to help Bigs and Littles connect. I know personally that mentoring works because I am the product of youth mentoring. I didn’t have a formal program like Big Brothers Big Sisters growing up. My mother was a single parent who built a village around me with mentors. Most of them were women and were diverse in every sense (age, ethnicity, occupation, life experience, background, socio-economic status, etc.). What they had in common was their desire to see me reach my full potential and succeed in life. This is what mentoring does for young people. It gives hope. It allows dreaming. It gives confidence and provides security. This is my why for being a mentor. This is my why for joining BBBSCI. I have a responsibility to reach out and pull in the youth who are willing to grasp my hand. “I got matched with my Little Sister Kiera this fall!” I hope you enjoy this opportunity to get to know us. You will meet our staff and our board members. These are the people who work long hours and volunteer their time, talents, and treasures to help us to fulfill our mission. You will learn more about all our programs. You will see highlights about our Bigs of the Year - two individuals who consistently go the extra mile to support their Littles and our agency. We choose new Bigs of the Year annually. You will also learn about our campaigns that are underway to help us not only recruit new mentors but also raise funds for our new Youth Mentoring Center (due to open in Summer 2024).
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