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Hatred must not overshadow our words and our actions. We continue to empower our young people through shared values and a vision of connection and mutual respect for one’s beliefs and humanity. In times of tragedy, despair, or violence, we stand with communities that are affected in hopes that our presence and action rebuild trust and develops dialogue that heals and inspires. In response to recent anti-Semitic attacks and on the heels of recent mass shootings in California and Florida, we must ground ourselves in our mission to serve all youth equitably. Equity stands in the face of tragedy with resilience. Equity is the building block by which we dedicate our time and our power to be at our best for the communities that seek healing and understanding when they are faced with circumstances outside of their control. Big Brothers Big Sisters welcomes, affirms, and acknowledges one’s uniqueness and celebrates it without judgement. No community nor individual is immune to tragedy, but it is how we recover and rebuild that provides the model for our youth to see that vicious displays of hatred will not be tolerated, nor define us. We unite in solidarity with all marginalized communities and denounce violence and discrimination against any community based on their religious beliefs.
Young people who continue to witness acts of violence and hatred need adults to listen and respect one another for who they are regardless of religious affiliation, race, national origin, sexual identity, or any other identifiable difference.
One of the ways we continue to break down barriers and build understanding is through our Race, Relationships and Resources series. We engage experts and those within the Big Brothers Big Sisters network to join us for courageous conversations to share insight and perspectives as we tackle our Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (JEDI) work. And last week, we launched our new JEDI Cultural Humility Training, designed for staff, Bigs and Board members. This training explores the history of justice in our mentoring story, it’s importance for young people, and how to utilize JEDI strategies. Those who go through this training will learn the history of systemic factors that contribute to disparities amongst communities and build cultural awareness. We do not have all the answers. But these are steps in a long journey to be a part of the solution that our young people need—and deserve.
It is with great pleasure that we introduce a dynamic professional joining the Senior Leadership Team of Big Brothers Big Sisters of America (BBBSA)! We are excited to introduce Deborah Barge, CFRE, as BBBSA’s new Chief Development Officer (CDO). As CDO, Deborah will lead and cultivate the implementation of a new, diversified, expanded fundraising strategy for the National Office and work in partnership with the Network on a federated-wide fundraising strategy.
Deborah is well-experienced leading diverse, multi-affiliate, national fundraising and revenue generating initiatives for worthy charitable causes across the nation including the Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA) and the March of Dimes for more than 20 years. In her most recent role as the Senior VP, Chief Operating & Field Officer at MDA, Deborah led programming, CRM and systems integrations, and fundraising programs maximizing growth and optimized business operations. As a servant-leader, Deborah, strives to maintain an environment that promotes continuous learning and innovation to drive data-informed, donor-centric revenue development success to fuel the mission. She lives in the Greater Seattle area with her two children and husband. We are honored and excited to have Deborah join the Big Brothers Big Sisters of America team!
On the one-year anniversary of George Floyd’s death, a tragic moment that sparked local, national, and international attention, Big Brothers Big Sisters is taking time to remember Mr. Floyd’s legacy. But we know that one moment of reflection isn’t enough to honor the movement that arose from this time in our history.
We are committed to affirming and welcoming all people from diverse backgrounds through our actions. Over the last year, we have created new avenues to ensure our work to empower and inspire young people, is inclusive and actionable, including:
- Launch of the Race, Relationships, and Resources webinar series, which creates a convening space to hold dialogue regarding critical conversations about race
- Refresh of Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (JEDI) learning and development curriculum that provides cultural awareness and humility skills
- Creation of virtual, interactive learning opportunities for our volunteer mentors to learn Social Emotional Learning strategies – rooted in equity – that build thriving relationships with our young people
- Development of our National Youth Advisory Council to ensure our young people can advise and inform our equity and empowerment work.
Our vision is one of shared values and power where people from different backgrounds, perspectives, and communities work together to form a village of caring, supportive adults surrounding each young person, and inspiring them to achieve their full potential. As a JEDI-focused youth empowerment organization, we continue to orient and share stories of our work, centered around our youth leaders, inspiring them to lead with the support of their mentors and the communities where they live.
Did you know about all the ways you can get involved with the mission of Big Brothers Big Sisters? From volunteering and one-time cash gifts to even vehicle donations—we accept all forms of support. With a used car, truck, RV, boat and more, you could easily make a significant impact on kids in your community.
Here’s How it Works: Call 1-800-710-9145 or submit the secure online donation form at bbbs.careasy.org. From there, our vehicle donation program takes care of everything from arranging the free pick-up and sale to sending Big Brothers Big Sisters the proceeds and providing you with a donation tax receipt—all for free. Running or not, we accept almost any type of vehicle donation that meet the following basic requirements:
-Vehicle has a clear title. (However, some states have exceptions.)
-Vehicle is in one piece and towable but does not need to be running.
-Vehicle is accessible for safe towing.
Our Vehicle Donor Support Team is available seven days a week and helps you every step of the way. Click HERE to learn more!
An excerpt by Elaine Cha
This is a photo from my sixth birthday.
It was 1982. My parents ran a corner store called Norma’s Variety in Dundas, Ontario and our multi-generational family lived in the flat upstairs. (No, there wasn’t a Norma in our lineage. Yes, Kim’s Convenience is “real.”) The friends around me were neighbourhood playmates and schoolmates younger/peer/older. And a few of them were there the very first time I got “chink”-ed… and fought back.
At this point, this text could go so many places. The storyteller in me urges vivid detail (“F bombs! Shin kicks!”); the conventional journo, just the facts. Yet in this historical, cultural moment, I feel less inclined to explain what happened re: that ugly (and inaccurate) slur and more compelled to ask,
“Reader ~~ Where does the story go for you? What are you thinking, imagining, maybe remembering or recognizing? What does that reveal about who or what you know? And how might your responses point to things bigger than individual choices, independent actions, or isolated experiences?”
I was invited to write about how I self-identify. After several scrapped drafts, however, I found myself at Questions > Statement because identification – even when I do so for/about myself – depends on where I am. Whom I’m with. What’s necessitated descriptors I deploy or avoid. And as my half-told kindergarten tale shows, there are times who I say I am doesn’t matter when people and institutions decide that mistaking me suits them just fine.
Clearly self-identification’s too much to cover in a few expository paragraphs. But it isn’t too much to explore in a space of caring, respecting relationship. That can be a place where inquirings are openings, not demands or pressures, and responses aren’t answers so much as reflections that can change over time.
I started this post with an anecdote about being a kid in Canada – and now, an adult in Midwest USA whose Korean American son’s the same age I was in ‘82 – with an East Asian face. I could’ve left it at “I got ‘chink’-ed,” but I chose “fought back” because the grown-ups and friends in my corner asserted my power to raise my voice (and, in a couple different ways, my foot).
So if you’re reading this post and/or absorbing the May 2021 “Healing & Humility” RRR webinar to support an Asian Little, Parent/Guardian, Big, agency colleague or partner in your life, I offer these few encouragements:
As you listen to understand (not fix), remember there’s no single story to being Asian or Asian American: that includes everything from responses to rising reports of anti-Asian violence and positions on hate crime legislation to critiques of Asian representation on-screen and “authentic” Asian food.
Make room for what Asian folks are ready to discuss with you, not just what you don’t get or what’s blazing across social media or news coverage.
Take time, on your own and in relationship/community, to explore Asian American and Pacific Islander experiences and perspectives. Take advantage of all the content out there in May, but resist turning attention off when 6/1 comes. The end of AAPI Heritage Month will inevitably put media focus elsewhere; I hope your attentiveness to what your Asian friends care about holds way beyond this May and all Mays to come.
You ready to do this? Let’s grow, and fight, together.
We’re bringing Artis Stevens, President & CEO of Big Brothers Big Sisters of America, to speak with Kansas City on May 25 on ‘Powerful Messages in Changing Times: How to Stay Relevant and Keep Your Mission Front and Center’. Learn more and save your seat.
It’s hard to believe I’m past the 90 day mark as the CEO and President of Big Brothers Big Sisters. It has been an honor to lead a youth empowerment 1-to-1 mentoring organization, built on a foundation more than a century old. Big Brothers Big Sisters was born out of an idea as an alternative for kids facing the juvenile justice system. And over the past few months, I’ve gone on a national tour—a virtual one!—to connect with staff at our 230+ agencies across the country, our volunteers (called ‘Bigs’) and hear the inspiring stories of the youth in our program, called ‘Little Brothers’ or ‘Little Sisters’ who have amazing potential—we exist to empower that potential every day.
With More Than 30,000 Youth Waiting for a Mentor, Top NFL Draft Prospects Share their Stories to Encourage Volunteers to Get Involved
Old Spice today announces its latest initiative furthering a 10-year commitment to help increase high school graduation rates by 10 percent by 2030. Through confidence and empowerment programs, Old Spice is reaching guys in underserved communities to help nurture and build confidence in their potential. As the next class of future NFL stars commence their careers at the 2021 NFL Draft, Old Spice is partnering with top NFL Draft prospects and Big Brothers Big Sisters of America, as part of the NFL’s Inspire Change Initiative, to spotlight the importance of mentorship in the lives and success of young people and to increase mentors in communities nationwide.
Studies show mentorship can impact academic, social, and economic outcomes, yet one in three young people do not have a mentor. An estimated 16 million young people will reach adulthood without ever having a mentor in their lives, and more than 50% of those young people face adverse risk factors. On the other hand, 95% of young adults with formal mentoring relationships and consistent support say the experiences helped them stay on track in school and make good choices. [1]
As part of Old Spice’s long-standing relationship with the NFL, the two are pairing up again to highlight real-life mentoring stories from some of this year’s top NFL Draft prospects including, DeVonta Smith [VIDEO LINK] (University of Alabama) and his mentor Vincent Smith, and Kyle Pitts (University of Florida), who is paired with NFL star Travis Kelce (Kansas City Chiefs) [VIDEO LINK]. Old Spice is creating a series of videos in which the players share their personal stories: how mentorship has impacted their educational journeys, the foundational principles that have helped them achieve their goals, and personal passion for getting more people from diverse backgrounds involved in mentoring. The series lives on Old Spice’s YouTube page as well as on players’ social channels during NFL Draft week, starting Tuesday April 27, 2021.
In addition to Smith and Pitts, former North Dakota State quarterback Trey Lance will also share his experiences though national media tours and social media content, emphasizing to young people that seeking guidance is normal, while providing them and potential mentors with details on how to connect with Big Brothers Big Sisters.
In partnership with Big Brothers and Big Sisters, Old Spice is offering fans and potential volunteers (called ‘Bigs’) with an easy way to make a difference in the lives of a student to help level the playing field for youth in communities nationwide. While the NFL is drafting the next generation of players, Big Brothers Big Sisters is drafting the next generation of Bigs. Right now, there are more than 30,000 youth waiting to be matched with a Big and the organization is calling for more volunteers – especially men – to get in the game to inspire change so more kids can reach their potential. Old Spice and the NFL are encouraging volunteers to visit www.bigdraft21.com to learn more – you can volunteer virtually or at a safe distance.
“Old Spice is thrilled to leverage our NFL partnership to find new ways to support and enable youth. We’re excited to collaborate with another NFL partner, Big Brothers Big Sisters, to help drive direct community impact,” said Matt Krehbiel, vice president of the Old Spice brand. “Our common goal is to create more formal mentor/mentee relationships that help empower youth to confidently graduate high school.”
“Mentoring stories–on and off the field–are what inspire us every day,” said Artis Stevens, President and CEO of Big Brothers Big Sisters of America. “We appreciate the opportunity to work with Old Spice to share this important message: mentoring not only impacts the life of a young person, but as the mentor, you get as much out of the friendship, if not more.”
Old Spice has long helped young men and boys transition into young adulthood. With this latest installment of the brand’s 10-year commitment to help increase high school graduation rates, the focus on mentorship helps drive Old Spice closer to its goal and overall mission of helping guys build true confidence so they can reach their education goals. With the help of Big Brothers Big Sisters and the NFL, the brand is taking one step closer to achieving the 10-year goal.
About Old Spice
Procter & Gamble’s Old Spice is the quintessential grooming brand. With more than 80 years as an American icon, Old Spice is the authority on grooming experience and has leveraged this heritage to become the No.1 selling anti-perspirant and deodorant brand for guys in the United States. Old Spice offers a complete product portfolio for today’s evolving needs, including anti-perspirants, deodorants, body washes, body sprays, shampoos and hair stylers. Check Old Spice out at www.oldspice.com, Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/OldSpice), Twitter (@OldSpice) and Instagram (oldspice).
The national mentoring organization was selected as part of iHeart’s comprehensive grant program to advance social justice.
The impactful mentoring message of Big Brothers Big Sisters of America (BBBSA) will be highlighted on more than 850 live broadcast radio stations, thanks to a new partnership with iHeartMedia. The number one audio company in the United States selected BBBSA for the Communities Spotlight Media Grant Program. The goal of the Program is to provide a platform for organizations to inspire, educate and empower listeners to take a stand against systemic racism and promote social justice.
This initiative aligns with the mission of Big Brothers Big Sisters to empower the potential of all youth through one-to-one mentoring, and the organization’s commitment to Justice, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (JEDI). The 100+ year old national non-profit was founded out of a need to offer an alternative path for youth facing the juvenile justice system. Today, there are more than 230+ local Big Brothers Big Sisters agencies, located in every state, from rural communities to major metropolitan areas.
Beginning today a series of PSAs featuring voices of current youth (called “Littles”) will air on iHeartRadio stations and the iHeartRadio app throughout 2021. The spots are focused on the need for Big Brothers Big Sisters mentors, and most especially Black men.
“We appreciate the support of iHeartMedia and the opportunity to reach more volunteers and to share our message,” said Artis Stevens, President & CEO of Big Brothers Big Sisters of America. “With 30,000 kids still waiting for a mentor, the power of this message will inspire caring adults to get involved and support their local Big Brothers Big Sisters agencies.”
Stevens, who has more than 25 years of expertise in marketing and the youth development sector, will also lend his voice and perspective by joining iHeartMedia’s Black Information Network (BIN) Advisory Board. BIN is a 24/7 national and local all news audio service for the Black community. Advisory Board members serve as champions to help foster the common understanding necessary to create real, positive and lasting societal change through the Black Information Network (BIN).
“Thousands of young people across the U.S. are facing social isolation due to the pandemic and the need for connection is even stronger within Black communities that were hardest hit,” said Tony ColesPresident of BIN: Black Information Network, and Division President – Metro Markets at iHeartMedia. “Through iHeart’s partnership with Big Brothers Big Sisters of America we hope to increase equity for all youth, and especially those lacking male role models or those that have experienced loss due to the pandemic. Big Brothers Big Sisters has been positively influencing young lives for over a century and the need for male volunteers right now is critical to their mission.”
iHeartMedia will also be a thought leader and participate in the Big Brothers Big Sisters of America (BBBSA) 2021 Virtual National Conference Bigger Together June 28-July 1. More than 3,000 local BBBS leaders and staff members from across the country are anticipated to connect during BBBSA’s annual national conference for training, professional development, and peer-sharing. Each year, outstanding youth, volunteers and BBBSA supporters share powerful stories of resilience and hope. Those selected as national ambassadors for BBBS will be honored at a virtual star-studded gala with entertainment and special guests. For more information about Big Brothers Big Sisters of America and our commitment to JEDI, please visit our website, bbbs.org.
About iHeartMedia, Inc.
iHeartMedia, Inc. [Nasdaq: IHRT] is the leading audio media company in America, reaching over 250 million people each month. It is number one in broadcast and streaming radio as well as podcasting and audio ad tech, and includes three segments: The iHeartMedia Multiplatform Group; the iHeartMedia Digital Audio Group; and the Audio and Media Services Group. Visit iHeartMedia.com for more company information.
While the NFL is drafting the next generation of players, we’re drafting the next generation of Bigs.
There are more than 30,000 youth currently waiting to be matched with a Big. We’re teaming up with the NFL Inspire Change Initiative to ensure that access to opportunity is a reality for all.
It’s Big Draft season. Become a Big, and you can help level the playing field for a kid in your community. Click here to find out how to get involved!
Trymaine Lee
Ray Davis
Osa Odighizuwa
