Big Brothers Big Sisters Day at the Capitol

Our Littles from Atlanta, DeKalb County, Clayton County, and the Chattahoochee Valley had a powerful opportunity to engage directly with the Georgia Legislature during Big Brothers Big Sisters Day at the Capitol. They had the unique opportunity serving as pages in the Senate Chamber and connecting with lawmakers as “Bigs for a Day.”

With support from the Lt. Governor’s Office, Betsy Fitzgerald, President & CEO of Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Heart of Georgia, and Lindsey Foster, Executive Director of Big Brothers Big Sisters Northwest Georgia Mountains, the day celebrated the importance of continued investment in mentoring and youth development across Georgia.

The Georgia Senate and House formally recognized Big Brothers Big Sisters through resolutions sponsored by Sen. Nan Orrock and Rep. Lydia Glaize. President Pro Tempore Larry Walker III helped ensure Littles felt welcomed and celebrated in the Senate Chamber.

A notable moment of the day occurred when Kwame, President & CEO of Big Brothers Big Sisters Metro Atlanta, was invited to address the Senate from the floor. He shared how mentoring supports young people across Georgia and highlighted the impact of Big Brothers Big Sisters’ work in schools and communities.

The day also reflected months of advocacy leading into the current legislative session. This fall, Big Brothers Big Sisters presented before the joint Senate and House Study Committee on Student Attendance, sharing how mentoring programs help address chronic absenteeism and support student success. That engagement helped lay the foundation for ongoing legislative collaboration, including the House resolution recognizing Big Brothers Big Sisters and the opportunity to further elevate the organization’s work directly on the Senate floor.

We thank the legislators who signed the Senate resolution recognizing Big Brothers Big Sisters and the power of mentoring:

Sen. Nan Orrock, Sen. Bo Hatchett, Sen. Kenya Wicks, Sen. Sam Watson, Sen. Drew Echols, Sen. David Lucas, Sen. Chuck Hufstetler, Sen. Donzella James, Sen. Ed Setzler, Sen. RaShaun Kemp, Sen. Freddie Powell Sims, Sen. Jason T. Dickerson, and Sen. Ed Harbison.

Additionally, we thank the members of the Georgia House who signed the House resolution:

Rep. Lydia Glaize, Rep. Carmen Rice, Rep. Chris Erwin, Rep. Matt Dubnik, Rep. Will Wade, and Rep. Rick Townsend.

Held during National Mentoring Month, the day served as a powerful culmination of efforts to elevate mentoring as a proven strategy for youth success while giving Littles the opportunity to see how their voices and experiences can shape public policy.