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ATLANTA, Ga. (Atlanta News First) – Just a few hours of your time have the potential to make a big impact on a young person’s life.
January is National Mentoring Month, and Big Brothers Big Sisters of Metro Atlanta, which serves upwards of 2,000 young people across 12 counties in metro Atlanta each year, makes it easy to volunteer your time. The nonprofit asks its mentors to give just 12 hours per month.
“We know that young people can be very successful if they have a caring adult in their life. Mentors are exactly that. All of us have had mentors in our life,” said Kwame Johnson, president, and CEO of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Metro Atlanta.
When you become a mentor, you help a young person in so many ways. Many children can get swept up in what their peers are doing, but research shows having an adult to look up to can help a young person make better decisions and avoid risky behavior.
Johnson says 98 percent of the young people involved in the nonprofit graduate high school on time and 98 percent of them avoid the criminal justice system.
“You think about the challenges any city faces. We are a big part of that solution in helping young people get to the next level, helping them get out of poverty, and the fastest way out of poverty is a high school diploma,” said Johnson.
Another benefit of being a “Big” to a “Little” is that mentoring can lead to a lifelong friendship.
“Once you become a part of someone’s life and a real friendship is developed, that goes on forever,” said Johnson. “The relationship changes and evolves as they become teenagers and young adults. Your needs are different. We’re here the whole way to support that match, to make sure that it’s successful.”
Local artists with SPS Productions will be helping Big Brothers Big Sisters on Sunday, Jan. 21. A portion of the proceeds from an art exhibit, taking place at the Distillery of Modern Art in Chamblee will benefit the nonprofit. The art exhibit will run from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Learn more about it here.
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Metro Atlanta is also ramping up recruitment efforts leading into the summer months when children have a lot of idle time on their hands. You can learn more about becoming a mentor by visiting the nonprofit’s website here.
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