Big Brothers urgently seeks Black men to mentor a growing waitlist of boys
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Essex, Hudson & Union Counties is seeking Black men to volunteer for its mentorship program, which provides support, guidance, and opportunities to help youth build confidence and achieve their educational goals.
The organization, which has offered a one-to-one mentoring program for local youth in New Jersey for the past 16 years, aims to provide mentors for 341 youth — primarily African American — who are on the waitlist due to a shortage of volunteers.
“What makes our organization stand out is the fact that we are data driven,” said Edward Jordan II, program director at the Big Brothers Big Sisters of Plainfield. “This ensures that we target specific areas of need and address them directly. There is an urgent need for African American male mentors in the communities we serve.”
Applicants for the Big Brothers Big Sisters mentorship program must be at least 18, pass a background check and agree to follow agency standards and guidelines, which are reviewed during the interview process.
The time commitment for volunteers is four hours per month for a minimum of 12 months. Each mentor and mentee pair is supported by a dedicated case manager, available to assist if mentors need guidance on activities, advice for navigating challenging situations, or feedback on their impact.
Activities vary based on each mentor-mentee pairing. Former matches have shared some of their favorite activities, including attending sponsored sporting events, visiting museums, exploring parks, touring New York City, and giving back to their communities by volunteering at food banks or participating in local cleanup events.
For additional information or to apply, visit Big Brothers Big Sisters Become a Big
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Ande Richards may be reached at arichards@njadvancemedia.com.
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