Tampa, FL – February 20, 2025 – Big Brothers Big Sisters of America (BBBSA) and the NABA, INC. (formerly the National Association of Black Accountants) announce a partnership aimed at providing youth with greater access to vital tools, experiences and mentorship that will advance economic mobility. The collaboration will empower young people by offering mentorship, career insights, and hands-on financial education, helping them build the foundation for future success and pave the way to a more just world, unleashing endless opportunities for growth.
Aligned with BBBSA’s workplace mentoring program, Big Futures, the partnership will strengthen the pipeline from high school to college and careers for underrepresented youth. Through joint programming, BBBSA and NABA will create unique mentoring relationships, offer access to industry leaders, and provide career exploration experiences, empowering youth to develop essential financial literacy skills and gain valuable insights into careers in accounting, business, and finance.
“Empowering youth with mentors and career guidance in fields like accounting, finance, and business is more than an initiative—it’s a commitment to building a future workforce that reflects the inclusivity we champion,” said Guylaine Saint Juste, CEO of NABA. “Together, NABA and BBBSA are creating pathways for young people to uncover career possibilities, hone essential skills, and build transformative relationships with role models dedicated to their success.”
This strategic alliance builds on the successful local partnership led by BBBS of Central Massachusetts and Metro West that piloted a multi-generational approach including college students from MassBay Community College who are mentored by NABA members from PriceWaterhouseCoopers and then serve as mentors to local high school students. The national partnership will initially focus on key markets including Miami, Nashville, Indianapolis, New Orleans, Chicago, Atlanta, Washington, D.C., and New York City. The joint programs will offer financial literacy training and mentoring for high school students, career exploration events, and industry-specific mentoring for young adults in community colleges. Additionally, BBBS youth, mentors, alumni, and staff will receive free NABA memberships, which will provide access to valuable networking opportunities, scholarships, and career development resources.
“This collaboration marks an exciting step toward ensuring that youth are equipped with the knowledge and support they need to succeed, both academically and professionally,” said Artis Stevens, president and CEO, BBBSA. “Through the combined efforts of BBBSA and NABA, young people will have the tools to build a financially literate, inclusive, and successful future, bridging the opportunity gap and strengthening networks for the next generation of leaders.”
The shared missions of both organizations to nurture the personal and professional growth of youth, while promoting community engagement and fostering inclusion, will also support efforts to attract and recruit more BIPOC mentors. BBBSA will provide members of NABA with resources, training, and networking opportunities to empower them to be effective mentors, further expanding the pool of volunteers and creating an even stronger network of mentors to support youth.
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ABOUT BIG BROTHERS BIG SISTERS OF AMERICA
Founded in 1904, Big Brothers Big Sisters is the largest and most experienced youth mentoring organization in the United States. Our mission is to create and support mentoring relationships that help all young people reach their potential. Big Brothers Big Sisters’ evidence-based approach is designed to foster positive outcomes from kindergarten into adulthood, enabling every young person we engage and support to dream bigger and have greater confidence, higher educational achievement, professional success, and lasting, fulfilling relationships. We have more than 230 local affiliated agencies serving over 5,000 communities across all 50 states and the District of Columbia. For more information, visit: www.bbbs.org.
ABOUT NABA INC.
For over 55 years, the National Association of Black Accountants, Inc. (NABA, Inc.) has been a powerful catalyst for change, serving its 22,000+ members, partners, and communities. NABA empowers Black Business Leaders across all levels of accounting, business, finance, and entrepreneurship, championing their success and driving meaningful impact at every stage of their professional journey. Through strategic initiatives and in partnership with the NABA Foundation, NABA fuels economic growth, bridges opportunity gaps, and cultivates the next generation of visionary leaders. NABA’s unwavering commitment to education, empowerment, and excellence propels its members toward achieving their full potential, contributing to a more inclusive and equitable workforce. Learn more at www.nabainc.org.
Trymaine Lee
Ray Davis
Osa Odighizuwa
