At Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Mass & Metrowest, we offer a number of different professionally supported mentorship opportunities between at-risk youth (Littles) and volunteer mentors (Bigs).
Community Based Mentoring
Our community-based program matches youth aged 8 to 16 years old with volunteer mentors from 80+ cities and towns in Central Massachusetts and Metrowest. Our Match Support Specialists match volunteer Bigs with Littles based on a variety of factors, such as interests, family history, location and personalities. Our Match Support Specialists formally introduce each Big with their Little and afterwards each match is required to schedule their own planned visits. Each match in our community meets 3 to 4 times per month and each match lasts at least 1 year. A few favorite activities that matches enjoy are going to the library, going to a local park, attending a sporting event, or grabbing a bite to eat. Each match is professionally supported by a Match Support Specialist to insure each party is happy and safe. These check-ins happen once per month for the first year of the match. Matches are eligible to stay involved in our program until the Little graduates from high school.
Corporate Site-Based Mentoring Program
This program matches local corporate volunteers with children at school-based or after school-based sites. We work with these groups to fit mentoring conveniently into their work schedules. After both parties complete applications, our Interview & Match Support Specialists match our volunteers and children based on a variety of factors, such as personalities, interests, and family history. After being matched, each Big and Little will find a good time when the Big should visit, and they will then meet once a week typically for 1-2 hours. The matches will be able to engage in activities of their choice at the site, such as going to the gym to play basketball or doing arts and crafts together. Periodically, a Match Support Specialist will check in with the Big and Little and offer support, suggestions and opportunities for the match to engage in. Some of our partners for this program include: Avidia Bank, Bose, Dell EMC, The Hanover Insurance Group, MathWorks, Middlesex Savings Bank, Staples, TJX, Unum, and more.
Worcester Area College Mentoring Programs
Thanks to the dedication and giving spirit of staff and students at five area colleges, Big Brothers Big Sisters Central Mass & Metrowest has one of the largest college mentor programs in the country. Today more than 700 college students from five Worcester schools mentor at-risk children in the city’s elementary and middle schools each week. Since the program was born in 2000, over 6,000 lives have been changed. When children are matched with a mentor in BBBS programs, 89% are less likely to engage in risky behavior and 95% report improvements in academic success. While the mentoring has a measurable impact on participating children, our mentors report that being a Big is a life changing experience for them as well.
Each college in the WACMP has their own unique involvement in our programs. Assumption College is the only campus-based program, where Assumption provides transportation from Flagg Street School to the campus. Clark University runs their program through a school club called CUBS, so they are granted a budget which is used to fund multiple field trips for matches each year. Past field trips include going to Davis Farmland, the Southwick Zoo, and Providence Bruins games. Holy Cross is our largest site with the greatest student-athlete presence. Nichols College serves the entirety of Southern Worcester. WPI offers the largest MySTEM presence out of all of our college mentoring programs.
Most of our college programs host Field day, a large campus-based event at the end of the school year, so Littles can have a fun day with their Bigs one more time before the long summer break. At these events, matches enjoy food, games, and STEM and art activities. Field day also gives the Little a chance to tour their Big’s college campus and see what it would be like to attend college. Since these events are so huge, we are grateful to have donations from community-driven organizations in the area. Recent donations came from: Polar, KIND Bars, Yasso Frozen Yogurt, Frosty Flyer from Fidelity Bank and Wegmans.
College | Who they serve |
|---|---|
Assumption College | Flagg Street School |
Clark University | Central Community Branch YMCA Jacob Hiatt School Woodland Academy |
College of the Holy Cross | Boys and Girls Club of Worcester Canterbury Street School Girls, Inc. Quinsigamond Elementary School Vernon Hill (all-girls program) |
Nichols College | Dudley Elementary School Dudley Middle School Our Bright Future - Southbridge Webster Dudley Boys and Girls Club |
Worcester Polytechnic Institute |
Belmont Street School Elm Park School |
Mazie Mentoring Program
The Mazie Mentoring Program fulfills the legacy of John Andrew Mazie, a man who was a mentor to many young people before tragically dying in a car accident. In his honor, his parents Barbara and Lowell Mazie created the Mazie Mentoring Program. Since its foundation in 1998, the Mazie Mentoring Program has served over 900 students in both Framingham and Waltham High Schools. As of September 2019, a third program began at Marlborough High School. The program recruits and trains adult volunteers to mentor and act as role models for high school students at risk of not reaching their full potential. Its objective is to provide young people with the support to help them achieve their goals and succeed.
As of July 1, 2017, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Mass & Metrowest began managing the Mazie Mentoring Program. Although the Mazie Mentoring Program remains a separate organization with its own Federal Tax ID number, the combined organizations are able to reduce back-office expenses and expand their programs into other schools.
Become a Mazie Mentor
To become a mentor in the Mazie Mentoring Program, you must be at least 21 years of age and a high school graduate. You also must commit to meeting with your mentee for an average of 8 hours per month so you can make a positive impact on that young teen's life.
For more information about becoming a mentoring the Mazie Mentoring Program, click here.