Big Brothers And Big Sisters Of Greater Miami

BIG BROTHERS BIG SISTERS OF MIAMI IS THE PREMIER MENTORING ORGANIZATION THAT SEEKS TO CREATE AND SUPPORT ONE-TO-ONE MENTORING RELATIONSHIPS THAT IGNITE THE POWER AND PROMISE OF YOUTH.

BIG BROTHERS BIG SISTERS OF MIAMI, INC. (THE ORGANIZATION") IS A NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION AND A MEMBER OF THE NATIONAL FEDERATION BIG BROTHERS BIG SISTERS OF AMERICA. THE ORGANIZATION RECOGNIZES THAT ALL YOUTH HAVE THE ABILITY TO DO BIG THINGS. THAT IS WHY THE ORGANIZATION WORKS TOWARD THE MISSION OF CREATING AND SUPPORTING ONE-TO-ONE MENTORING RELATIONSHIPS THAT IGNITE THE POWER AND PROMISE OF YOUTH.SINCE 1958, THE ORGANIZATION HAS BEEN SOUTH FLORIDA'S PREMIER MENTORING ORGANIZATION, DEFENDING THE POTENTIAL OF FUTURE LEADERS IN THE COMMUNITY BY MATCHING AT-RISK YOUTHS (LITTLES) WITH COMMITTED ADULT MENTORS (BIGS). THESE RELATIONSHIPS - STRATEGICALLY MATCHED BASED ON LITTLES' NEEDS AND BIGS' BACKGROUNDS AND SKILLS, AS WELL AS COMMON INTERESTS, ASPIRATIONS, AND PERSONALITIES - EMPOWER LITTLES TO ACHIEVE THEIR FULL POTENTIAL AND BECOME PRODUCTIVE MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY.BUILDING UPON THE CORE ONE-TO-ONE COMMUNITY-BASED MENTORING MODEL IN WHICH BIGS AND LITTLES EXPLORE THE LOCAL COMMUNITY TOGETHER, THE ORGANIZATION HAS DEVELOPED INNOVATIVE PROGRAMS TO MEET THE COMMUNITY'S NEEDS; THESE INCLUDE BIGS IN SCHOOLS, IN WHICH BIGS VISIT THEIR LITTLES AT SCHOOL OR AT A PARTNER AFTER-SCHOOL SITE ONCE A WEEK; SCHOOL TO WORK, IN WHICH LITTLES VISIT THEIR BIGS AT WORK ONCE A MONTH; A GRADUATE PROGRAM, IN WHICH BIGS AND LITTLES CONTINUE THEIR MENTORING RELATIONSHIP AFTER THE LITTLE GRADUATES HIGH SCHOOL; BIGS IN BLUE, IN WHICH LOCAL POLICE OFFICERS SERVE AS BIGS; AND A SET OF CONTINUING EDUCATION PROGRAMS THAT PREPARE LITTLES FOR POST-SECONDARY SUCCESS, BOTH WHILE IN HIGH SCHOOL AND UPON GRADUATION.CONTINUING EDUCATION PROGRAMMING INCLUDES TAKE STOCK IN CHILDREN OF FLORIDA, INC. ("TSIC"). AS THE LEAD PARTNER FOR THE MIAMI OFFICE OF TSIC, THE ORGANIZATION OFFERS YOUTH WHO ARE ENROLLED IN TSIC A FULL SCHOLARSHIP THROUGH THE FLORIDA PRE-PAID PROGRAM UPON HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATION. ADDITIONALLY, THESE YOUTH RECEIVE TARGETED COLLEGE SUCCESS COACHING TO ENSURE THEY ARE PROGRESSING ACADEMICALLY AND RECEIVING ANY NECESSARY INTERVENTIONS TO GET AND STAY ON TRACK TO GRADUATE HIGH SCHOOL ON TIME. FINALLY, THESE YOUTH RECEIVE PERSONAL MENTORS WHO WORK WITH THEM AND THEIR COLLEGE SUCCESS COACH TO PROVIDE THE SOCIAL AND EMOTIONAL SUPPORT NECESSARY TO SUCCEED IN HIGH SCHOOL AND BEYOND. WITH THE END GOAL OF ALL STUDENTS ENROLLING IN POST-SECONDARY EDUCATION-AND THE LONG-TERM GOAL OF ALL STUDENTS GRADUATING WITH A DEGREE FROM AN INSTITUTE OF HIGHER EDUCATION-THE PROGRAM ALSO PROVIDES COLLEGE AND CAREER READINESS WORKSHOPS, WHICH ARE NOW OPEN TO ALL YOUTH SERVED BY THE ORGANIZATION, WHETHER OR NOT THEY ARE ENROLLED IN TSIC. COVERING TOPICS SUCH AS COMPLETING THE FAFSA, WRITING A COLLEGE ESSAY, AND GENERAL LIFE SKILLS, THESE WORKSHOPS ENHANCE THE MENTORING PROGRAMS PROVIDED BY THE ORGANIZATION, HELPING YOUTHS SERVED ANSWER THE QUESTION. "WHAT'S NEXT?" YOUTH ENROLLED IN TSIC ARE ALSO OFFERED THE OPPORTUNITY TO ENROLL IN THE CORE BIG BROTHERS BIG SISTERS MENTORING PROGRAM, SO THEY ARE ELIGIBLE FOR THE GRADUATE PROGRAM UPON HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATION, ENABLING THEM TO MAINTAIN THEIR RELATIONSHIP WITH THEIR BIGS THROUGHOUT THEIR TRANSITION TO ADULTHOOD.FINALLY, THE ORGANIZATION PROVIDES GROUP ENGAGEMENT & MENTORING ("GEM") AT ITS HEADQUARTERS, THE CARNIVAL CENTER FOR EXCELLENCE. GEM PROVIDES AFTER-SCHOOL AND WEEKEND ACTIVITIES TO OUR LITTLES THAT FOCUSES ON ONE OR MORE OF THE FIVE KEY AREAS, KNOWN AS THE BIG5 - ACADEMIC ENRICHMENT, CAREER PATHWAYS, DIGITAL LITERACY, HEALTH & WELLNESS AND MUSIC & THE ARTS.WITH A VISION THAT ALL CHILDREN ACHIEVE THEIR FULL POTENTIAL, THE ORGANIZATION IGNITES THE POTENTIAL WITHIN EACH AND EVERY CHILD AND ADVOCATES FOR THEM TO EXPLORE THE ENDLESS POSSIBILITIES OF WHAT THEY CAN ACCOMPLISH. WHETHER THROUGH ONE-TO-ONE MENTORING, GEM OR TSIC, YOUTHS BENEFIT FROM A POSITIVE ROLE MODEL WHO ADVOCATES FOR THEM AND HELPS THEM REACH THEIR FULL POTENTIAL - THEIR BIG POTENTIAL.