Making a BIG difference
Big Brothers Big Sisters holds monthly outreach luncheons, seeks to become more volunteer-supported organization
Big Brothers Big Sisters is looking for big expansions - in little ways. For those who didn't know, the organization holds community lunch-and-learn events, called Little Moments Luncheons, every month at various locations.
Back
With Subway sandwiches and homemade brownies as a lure, Thursday's luncheon brought together four Big Brothers Big Sisters representatives and two community members in a quiet room at Wells Fargo Home Mortgage to discuss the organization, its services and its goals.
"These luncheons are to show people in the community what we are, what we do, who we serve and answer questions you might have," said Karine Rosvold, Big Brothers Big Sisters event specialist. "Hopefully, through this process, we'll create more advocates, people who can talk about us and know what we do."
Big Brothers Big Sisters currently has about 141 matches in Juneau and has served more than 200 kids this last year. The organization is working on making at least seven new School Program matches in the Mendenhall Valley, as well as another seven matches at Harborview Elementary School.
In general, Big Brothers Big Sisters needs more Alaska Native and male mentors, or Bigs.
"The thing that we always needs at Big Brothers Big Sisters are more advocates, always more volunteers, especially men, because we have a shortage of men volunteers," Rosvold said. "We have a lot of little boys who are on waiting lists to get Big Brothers."
The organization also welcomes resources to help professional and financial support.
"We are trying to make ourselves more of a donor-, volunteer-supported organization, not dependent as much on outside resources," Rosvold added. "We want people to feel inspired by our mission, our vision, things that we do, and hopefully more people will get involved."
SUCCESS
According to Bob Coghill, development director for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Alaska, a study done about two years ago found that children mentored through Big Brothers Big Sisters were "much less likely" to drink and use drugs.
"They're much more likely to be focused in school and less likely to hit other people and act out," he added. "And when a kid is not acting out in school, that means that teacher is not having to spend extra time with them. It allows the teacher to teach not only that child but every other child in the classroom, so it really has a good ripple effect."
Also, according to a national study released in June, Big Brothers Big Sisters found that compared to their peers (people from the same neighborhood and the same situations), alumni Littles (Littles who have grown up) were 75 percent more likely to finish college.
"They were much more likely to have an income of more than $75,000, which I find fantastic," Coghill added. "Not only that, but they're more likely to volunteer. And they were in good relationships with other people at a much higher rate than the children who had not been Littles."
Katy Jordan, director of partnerships and recruitments, believes the organization's focus on one-to-one relationships has made it successful.
"A lot of other mentoring programs involved reading buddies or tutors or just dealing strictly with academics, but our program is really about a one-to-one friendship, and we're always encouraging that throughout the life of their match," Jordan said. "But that piece is really critical. It's what makes our program stand apart from other programs."
PROGRAMS
Big Brothers Big Sisters operates two programs - Community Based and School Based.
The community program asks for two to four meetings a month, for which Big Brothers Big Sisters provides one free, pre-planned activity.
"It's more traditional, what people imagine when they think of Big Brothers Big Sisters," Coghill said of the Community Based program. "It's where you go out and play tennis, go out to the movies, go for a hike."
Unlike the Community Based program, which is more flexible and asks for a two-year commitment, the School Based program, which was started in 1999, involves serving one hour a week at the child's school with a one-year commitment.
"(The school program) is a little more structured and works better for people who work 9 to 5 and have an hour lunch hour," Jordan said. "So for people who are pretty busy at work and in their personal life, that one hour a week during lunch works a lot better."
Regardless of which program one prefers, the consensus Thursday was that all community members can help with outreach.
"If you're talking to people, we have these lunch-and-learns every month," Jordan said. "That's another way to wrap people in who you might be talking to. Or if you know of a group you think we should maybe talk to, we can do our presentations there as well."
Big Brothers Big Sisters presents to a variety of groups and organizations, some annually such as the School Board and the Central Council Tlingit & Haida Indian Tribes of Alaska.
"We think it's very important for every child who wants or needs a mentor or a caring adult friend to have one," Rosvold said. "Our mission is the same throughout the state, which is to serve all of the children who want a Big."
The next Little Moments Luncheon will be at noon Oct. 14 at Big Brothers Big Sisters, 110 Seward St. There will not be a luncheon in November, due to the organization's Dream Big Luncheon at noon on Nov. 4 at Centennial Hall.
• Contact Neighbors editor Kim Andree at 523-2272 or by e-mail at kim.andree@juneauempire.com.