Level Up: Future-Focused In-School Mentoring
In 2022, BBBSMA launched a new program - Level Up - that includes small group mentoring and 1:1 mentoring provided by trained, professional mentors who work in the school, providing students with the opportunity to be mentored during the school day.
Current Partner Schools:
Price Middle School
Russell West End Academy
Young Middle School
The mentors in the Level Up program are Big Brothers Big Sisters of Metro Atlanta employees called Lead Mentors. Their whole job is to be a mentor to youth! They are professionally and continually trained to provide the highest standard of mentorship and relationship-building with youth in the program.
Any student can enroll to be a Little (a mentee) at a Level Up School. The school team is on board for Littles to reach their full potential by meeting with their mentor during the school day at their designated time.
Each Lead Mentor leads several small groups of up to 5 Littles at time and some 1:1 sessions for other mentees. When Mentors and Littles meet, they're taking time to talk about their day, connect, build relational skills, and improve social-emotional connection. This all happens during the school day on a set schedule, similarly to how Connections work in a student's schedule.
Research and experience shows that mentorship leads to positive outcomes for youth, including a greater sense of belonging, having clear plans and ideas for their future, avoidance of risky behaviors, and improved social-emotional skills.
