BBBSMA: Program Spotlight
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Metro Atlanta is proud to offer several impactful programs within our agency. These programs include:
1:1 Mentoring With Volunteers
In this program, adult volunteers (Bigs) are matched with youth (Littles) in an individualized program for each child who enters BBBSMA. Parents or guardians enroll their children and work with our program staff to identify areas of concern and goals for the mentoring relationship. Then, a personalized match plan is created for the child, addressing the Little’s needs so that they can thrive.
Volunteers and youth are matched based on several important factors: geographic proximity, personality, life experiences, and shared interests. For example, a Little hoping to become a cosmetologist may be matched with a cosmetologist or hairdresser in the Metro Atlanta area. Or, vice versa, a Little looking for a positive male role model might be paired with a male mentor.
Bigs and Littles spend time together engaged in enrichment activities at times that are most convenient for Littles and their families. Sometimes, Bigs and Littles meet at the Little’s school. This is great for working parents who may need someone to supervise their child during the school day, mentoring them and encouraging them to pursue their education.
Having a Little is a one-year commitment of two monthly meetings, so if you want to volunteer with our agency, consider reviewing our Be a Big page for more information. While this one-year commitment may turn into a lifetime relationship, we greatly value the one-year mentoring commitments in our agency. In addition, a dedicated Match Support Specialist supports each mentoring match and provides ongoing resources and support to the Big, the Little, and parents/guardians, so Littles are always supported during their journey.
Beyond School Walls (BSW)
Beyond School Walls is a workplace mentoring program where high schoolers (Littles) are matched with corporate volunteers (Bigs). Once a month, matches meet as a group at the mentor’s workplace and engage in sessions facilitated by BBBSMA staff. Beyond School Walls focuses on a curriculum that promotes career and college readiness and relational skill development.
Sessions allow a Big and Little to participate in a shared activity while building relationships through conversations. The curriculum is designed so that Littles can enter the Beyond School Walls program at any point in their high school career.
Beyond School Walls creates and supports mentoring relationships, adhering to the same evidence-based best practices as our traditional 1:1 Mentoring Volunteer program.
Big Futures
Big Futures is an enhancement for all high school Littles in any BBBSMA mentoring program. It is a suite of resources, connections to other community partners who support high school youth, and a calendar of events and activities geared toward high school students.
Some of these activities include:
- Behind-the-Scenes Career Exposure Events
- Bigs and Littles Big Future Social
- Big Futures Hangouts
- Big Bold Path to a Big Future Summit/Post High School Opportunities Expo
Our facility provides consistent and tailored communications to our High School matches and families. This includes ongoing opportunities such as college application and preparation support, college tours, and corporate behind-the-scenes visits.
In 2023, we served more than 530 high school students with our Big Future activities and resources.
Level Up
Level Up is a large-scale mentoring program that utilizes paid mentors who work full-time in middle schools. Like its name, middle schoolers “level up” throughout the program, depending on their grade level. Level Up was created in response to the needs expressed by principals, counselors, and administrators. Middle school faculties requested trained, positive adult role models to provide consistent and direct mentoring for students exhibiting unprecedented classroom disruptions, student conflicts, and other behaviors.
Level Up was designed to serve 100 students per grade at partner middle schools through small groups and 1:1 mentoring. Our partner schools include Jean Childs Young, Price, and Bunche Middle Schools, H.J. Russell West End Academy in APS, and Lithonia Middle School in Dekalb County. Our agency currently serves 737 students at all five schools and expects to serve 800 in total this school year.
Over the next five years, we expect to expand Level Up to serve 2,700 students at nine schools.
