Seeking Volunteer Mentors For Black Youth Mentorship

Nationally, 65% of the youth enrolled in BBBS programs are BIPOC — black, indigenous or people of color — while only 32.3% of Bigs identify as BIPOC.* To fill the gap, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Broward aims to recruit and match more black, indigenous or people of color to serve as mentors to the 140+ boys on our waiting list.

MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN A CHILD’S LIFE.

Who Are the Littles in BBBS?

Littles come from a variety of backgrounds, but many come from single-parent households and even from no-parent households, where they’re being raised by a grandparent or other relative. Some of the kids’ families struggle financially (54%) and about a third of the families live in neighborhoods that are known for violence (33% nationally). Each year, Big Brothers Big Sisters of America publishes its Annual Impact Report. To understand who the youth are who come to BBBS to be matched with Bigs, here are national findings from that survey:

• 96% of BBBS families (nationwide) come from stable families with clear household roles and rules. In other words, they’re good kids.
• The majority of Littles’ families are single-parent households (54.65%), and 83% of BBBS families have at least one employed adult at home. In other words, they’re hard-working families.
• 66% of Littles struggle with emotional regulation and 60% experience anxiety. In other words, Littles benefit from Bigs who can listen, empathize and share their own experiences.

In Broward County, our Littles are 65% Black or mixed race, and we have an average of 140+ on a waiting list. They’re waiting for you. Click below to apply today.

Why We Need Mentors For Black Youth (BIGS)

Let us be clear: Children of all ages and backgrounds benefit from mentors! The reason that we seek to recruit more African-American and Black mentors in Broward County is that we want children to see themselves in their mentors. Matching a young minority child with a mentor who looks like them, helps them see possibilities.

BBBS’s Bigs offer the following benefits to Littles:

1. Providing positive role models: Minority children who lack positive role models in their communities, benefit from spending time with minority adults who have achieved success in their chosen fields. Bigs serve as role models and inspire and help guide and encourage children to achieve their goals.
2. Boosting self-esteem: Bigs provide emotional support, build confidence, and help Littles feel valued and appreciated, which helps children develop a more positive self-image and increase their motivation to succeed.
3. Improving academic performance: Some minority children face unique challenges in school, such as language barriers and cultural differences. Bigs can provide some academic support and help children develop study habits and organizational skills, leading to improved academic performance.
4. Providing career guidance: Littles in the BBBS program may not have access to information about different career options or the resources needed to pursue their desired career paths. Mentors can provide guidance and support to help children explore their interests and achieve their career goals.
5. Fostering cultural understanding: Bigs, especially Black mentorship programs within Big Brothers Big Sisters, can help children understand and appreciate different cultures and backgrounds, promoting greater understanding and tolerance in society as a whole.

Overall, mentoring minority children can have a significant positive impact on their academic and personal development, as well as contribute to building a more diverse and inclusive society.

How Much Time Do Volunteers Need?

We get asked this question a lot: How much time do volunteers have to commit each week? That’s a fair question because no one wants to commit to a Little and risk disappointing them by shorting them on time.

When Bigs sign up with BBBS of Broward, we ask them to commit to seeing their Littles for 1 to 2 hours a week, for a total of 4 hours a month. Yes, we all have the same 24 hours available every day, and many of us spend 1/3 of our time working, 1/3 of our time sleeping, and another 1/3 of that time taking care of personal business, eating, learning, exercising, doing personal projects, socializing and doing leisure activities. How could a Little fit into that busy schedule?

Stanford University reported that 90% of surveyed American adults say they want to volunteer, but only 25% actually do. When asked about barriers to volunteering, can you guess what the number one reason is? It’s what we’re all running short on. Time.

When you think about how you spend your time, here are some things to think about:

• The average social media user spends 2.5 hours a day on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube and other platforms (Techjury).
• The average adult in the U.S. watches about 2.5 hours of TV a day (Statista).
• The average person spends 3.25 hours on their phones every day (ExplodingTopics).

Could you forgo one hour of social media, TV and phone usage a week, and spend that time with a child in need of a mentor?

*according to the BBBSA Annual Impact Report of 2021.