TOGETHER Damon

2017 Annual Report GROWING TOGETHER Damon Richard Growing, together Damon struggled with homework, not because he wasn’t “It’s a big deal, making such a long‐term commitment,” said smart, he was a typical 13‐year‐old with myriad interests and Richard. “The BBBS team made it easy for me, and for Damon.” distractions. His mom, Amy, knew his potential and was aware of Richard went on to describe the ways he was supported as a Big the challenges of growing up in North Minneapolis. “Damon was — through the match process, training about what to expect and a good kid, and I wanted him to have all the support he needed what was expected of him, events and opportunities for learning to stay on track,” she said. and doing new things (as a Big, or together with Damon), and opportunities to connect with other Bigs and Littles. Richard Amy enrolled Damon with BBBS in early 2012. As a single mom of laughed and said, “Funny, I just got a letter from BBBS officially 10 children, she — and Damon — hoped to find the right mentor ‘closing’ our Big‐Little enrollment, as Damon recently turned 18. It to engage and be available through high school. “I do believe read, ’With great thanks and encouragement for your continued it takes a village,” Amy said. Neither of them could know how relationship.’ That’s funny, them thanking me!” beyond true their hopes would be realized. Richard became a Big Brother to Damon the summer before Damon entered 7th grade. The pair connected easily, and Sweet success Richard became a frequent, invaluable resource for Damon on This year Damon graduated from North High School in homework and decision‐making — there is an amazing array of Minneapolis, with a solid array of extra‐curricular experiences, choices facing junior high students, from community‐based summer jobs, and sports to extra‐ curricular activities, even an acceptance letter from Minneapolis deciding which high school to choose “It’s a big deal, making such Community and Technical College. He was can be overwhelming. a long-term commitment,” a Northside Achievement Zone scholar and an intern with the Minneapolis Youth “The first time I met Richard was pretty said Richard. “The BBBS Congress engaging in discussion and crazy,” recalls Damon. “My mom and I team made it easy for me, advocacy about issues that impact youth. had just gotten home when Richard showed up, and someone had broken and for Damon.” Damon is spending the summer as a into our house!” Their next meet‐up freelance photographer, a skill Richard was less dramatic but equally memorable for Damon. “I still has been encouraging and supporting over the years, and have the canteen you bought me after we played tennis at Lake will major in art and business at MCTC in the fall. “I say this as Harriet,” grinned Damon, over breakfast at the Uptown Diner in a teacher for over forty years,” wrote Richard in a recent letter Minneapolis. “It says, ‘Free Refills’ on it, and it meant a lot to me.” of recommendation for Damon. “Damon Brown is one of the finest young men I have ever met. I have no doubt that given Early on, Richard made a “book club” with Damon, going together the opportunity to attend MCTC and then the U of M, Damon often to the bookstore where Damon would choose books that will fulfill his goals and dreams,” Describing his faith in Damon’s interested him which the two would later discuss, often over future, Richard’s endearment for his mentee is tangible, “Without breakfast or lunch at the Uptown Diner. A retired English teacher, hesitation I support this honorable and deserving young man. he enjoyed hearing Damon’s take on the books, through which Damon is a credit to his family, his school, his city, and himself.” they could talk about his experiences and explore the world. One of the best relationships of your life For Richard, becoming a Big Brother was an idea he’d warmed up to several years before his retirement when he learned his adult son had become a Big to a six‐year‐old boy in his Chicago 86% community. Richard had also discovered that his sister, as a single mom, had enrolled her son in a mentoring program in Graduation Minneapolis. Rate BBBS youth paired with a mentor during or before their freshman year and still matched at the beginning of their senior year, 3 WELCOME Valued friend, We’re thrilled to share Big Brothers Big Sisters’ 2017 successes with you, the organization’s closest supporters. Without you, the kids you read about within these pages would not have the mentors who guided them toward their fullest potential. This year was a strategic planning year. Over the next five years, you’ll hear a lot about our strategic goals to deepen our impact and mentor more youth, create a measurable impact for Bigs, strengthen our organizational sustainability and impact, create a model workplace, and Michael Goar Ray Eby transform our community. Chief Executive Officer, Vice President, Automotive The future is bright for Big Brothers Big Sisters, and for the youth we serve. Big Brothers Big Sisters Electrification, 3M; Thank you for being a part of this mission! Big Brothers Big Sisters Chairman, Board of Michael Goar and Ray Eby Directors improved or maintained 90% their scholastic competence have higher 83% education expectations are less likely to engage 86% in risky behavior improved or maintained grades in school LITTLES 88% 4 PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS Community-based Program Provides guidance that help Big Brothers and Big Sisters nurture healthy, Lasting Match Relationships lasting relationships with their Littles. 2017 was an exciting year for Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Teen Program Helps Littles Greater Twin Cities. “We set the bar high for 2017 and, with great thanks to our donors, we soared right over it!” According Pursue Their Dreams to Corinne Castro, Director of Enrollment and Matching, “We College access, career exploration and readiness, and healthy surpassed our match-making and match retention goals, while lifestyles and leadership — BBBS provides teen “Littles” so many focusing on relationship-building experiences for the youth, their critical keys to success — and dozens of confidence-building parents and guardians, and the mentors.” adventures and other events. Why are these goals so important? Because when caring adult The Teen Program makes it possible for BBBS Littles ages 12+ mentors (“Bigs”) are successfully matched with children (“Littles”) to explore post-secondary options. College tours, parent- who are facing adversity, the ongoing relationship and close child retreats, community-based outings, monthly “Let’s Talk!” connection between them can be the key to positive outcomes conversations about healthy lifestyles and relationships, and the through adulthood. Bigs provide social support, relational stability, EXPLORE career series with area businesses are all designed to help with academics and extracurricular activities, and other plant and nurture seeds of future success within each Little. opportunities that are otherwise not available to BBBS Littles. Individually tailored, one-to-one assistance helps Littles Once a match is made, Bigs and Littles spend time getting to successfully learn about their options and pursue their dreams. know each other through activities they both enjoy. Bike riding, museum visits, board games, gardening, preparing healthy meals together — each pair decides how and where they’d most like to School-Based Programs Connect spend their time. Bigs can also help their Littles with homework, Partners and Community with personal growth and development skills, and whatever Thanks to the commitment and generosity of BBBS corporate their Little needs most from a mentor. Each match is unique and partners and donors, nearly 600 students are partnered with develops a schedule that works for them. volunteer mentors each year through the School-Based and BBBS donors make it possible to provide support, training and Beyond School Walls programs. As in the BBBS Community-Based 5 program, mentors engage youth in social emotional learning The Columbia Heights High School mentoring program is a strategies focused on developing personal competencies — self- partnership with Columbia Heights Police Department. Officer awareness, self-management, social awareness, relationship skills, volunteers meet weekly with young men on the basketball and responsible decision-making — while having fun with arts team to talk with them about personal values and community and crafts, reading, helping with homework, playing games, or standards, community policing, and what it’s like to be a police just having conversations in the classroom or corporate sponsor officer — then they play basketball. This has become an workplaces. enduring program that makes it possible for youth who were slipping through the cracks to form supportive relationships with BBBS elementary school programs continue to draw volunteer mentors, making real connections that impact each other’s lives mentors from a growing pool of organizations, colleges, and in profoundly meaningful ways. universities (such as Macalester College and the University of Minnesota) to pair up with children in 18 area schools. Bigs and Through BBBS’s Beyond School Walls program, corporate Littles meet one-to-one throughout the school year, spending partners host elementary and middle school Littles in the time together doing activities that enrich the school experience. workplace twice monthly for lunch, fun and learning. Mentors “My Little knows when we’re coming and is waiting. When she and Littles are matched one-to-one for the school year and sees me, she comes running to hug me,” said Gus (Augusta), spend their time together in career explorations, arts and crafts, a Macalester College mentor for the past two years. “It’s really games, and guided conversations.

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