Amber Ward goofs off with her “Little”, Sawyer, during a site-based mentorship day. | Photo by Danielle Hernandez
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Western North Carolina, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, connects children across the region with mentors who provide support and guidance through one-on-one relationships. Led by Regional Program Director Danielle Hernandez, the Jackson and Macon Counties branch serves about 100 children across the Plateau, with many on a waitlist for a mentor.
The organization offers several mentoring programs, including site-based, group and community-based mentoring. Site-based mentoring involves hour-long meetings at school to help with schoolwork and participate in relationship-building activities, while group mentoring pairs multiple mentors with eight to 10 children in structured activities that encourage engagement. Community-based mentoring allows a “Big” and “Little” to meet at least twice a month for activities tailored to their interests. “Bigs” are matched with “Littles” based on shared interests.
“The beauty of a small community like Cashiers to Highlands is there’s this strong understanding that it takes a village,” said Hernandez. “I think our mission really speaks to the epitome of that. It embraces all of those components and brings people to light so that they can be leaders in the community and step into places to lift kids up.”
Hernandez has had a front row seat to the program’s impact, especially among under-privileged youth. She said mentorship is such an invaluable asset to the community due the pressures many children face today.
“To have someone who is in their corner that says, ’Look, here’s what you can control. Here are options for you to choose different paths, and you are worthy of something different,’” said Hernandez. “That gives that child the power to realize what they have within them to grow and to become bigger and better than the person they feel like they are in that moment.”
Amber Ward, a student at Blue Ridge Early College, was formerly a “Little” in the program and saw firsthand how it benefited her through experiences she might not have had otherwise. Because of this, she later elected to become a “Big” and has already seen her own “Little” grow through the mentorship.
“At the beginning, he was kind of shy and didn’t want to say much. He kept changing his answers to fit mine,” said Ward. “But now he is more independent and picks things he wants to do and also respects the things I want to do. He’s become a lot more confident.”
Billy Love, executive director of the Bascom: A Center for Visual Arts, has been involved with BBBS for several years as both “Big” and a board member. He emphasized the importance of having a support network within the community and said the program had a positive impact not only on his “Little”, but on himself as well.
“We’re all facing challenges and we all could use somebody to lean on. It’s not like I was dumping all my troubles on him or anything like that,” said Love. “But if I was having a rough day, being with him made my day better, so it works both ways.”
Clarissa Emily, co-owner of The Stubborn Buddha and The Stubborn Bull and a former “Little” and “Big”, highlighted the importance of BBBS for struggling families in the Plateau. She said there is a significant wealth disparity in the region and the program fills in the gaps for families who can cover only basic necessities such as rent and food.
Emily strongly advised those interested to become ‘Bigs’.
“You have the ability to make a huge impact on a child’s life that they will always remember, just like I remember a lot of the experiences I had with my “Big”,” said Emily. “It’s definitely a great opportunity to have an impact on a child that really does last.”
BBBSWNC is currently seeking applicants for “Bigs” and potential participants are encouraged to fill out a volunteer enrollment form on their website.
To become a “Big” with BBBSWNC, mentors must be at least 18 years old (at least 16 for certain school programs), pledge one year, complete an application, pass a background check and complete an interview.
BBBSWNC will host its annual Bowl for Kids’ Sake on March 21. This year’s theme is Boots and Bowling. There are still teams open for anyone interested in participating. The event and fundraiser will take place at Galaxy Lanes in Sylva, located at 347 Jackson Plaza.
- Mitch Stone
reporter@highlandsnews.com