Big Brothers Big Sisters of Miami

Twice a month, Bigs and Littles explore the local community and share fun, educational and culturally enriching activities they both enjoy. BBBSM staff works with Bigs, Littles, and Littles’ families to encourage a continuous relationship through regular check-ins, as well as through coaching sessions on how to handle difficult situations for Bigs. They also coordinate fun and engaging, culturally enriching programmatic events throughout the year; these events include a back-to-school event, holiday celebrations and more.

Bigs and Littles spend time together on a weekly basis throughout the school year. Bigs visit their Littles at school or at a designated after-school program, such as BBBSM’s Group Engagement & Mentoring. Although not exclusive to younger volunteers, this program allows high school students who have mentors themselves to pass along the lessons they have learned and volunteer their time as a mentor to a younger child, serving as a positive role model who offers support and guidance throughout the year.

School to Work provides Littles in high school students with career readiness and job-shadowing experiences at an actual place of work. Working closely with MDCPS and corporate partners, BBBSM transports Littles once a month from school to a designated corporate partner site, where they are matched one-to-one with a Big. In addition to job shadowing and mentoring, students participate in customized workshops to learn basic life and employability skills, such as appropriate dress, interpersonal interactions, public speaking, time management, conflict in the workplace, personal finance and the necessity of an advanced degree for career growth.

The Graduate Program allows Littles who would have otherwise aged out of the BBBSM programs, along with their Bigs, to continue receiving professional match support as they transition into the early stages of adulthood. Whether a Little pursues higher education, trade school, the military or a career immediately after high school, the ongoing resources and coaching allow for the mentoring relationship to continue as the Littles enters a new phase of life. With many Littles coming from low-income households, they are likely the first ones in their families to attend college, making their Big an even more critical component of their success after high school.

Bigs in Blue is a unique subset of BBBSM programs in which Littles are matched with Bigs who are local police officers. Bigs in Blue operates throughout all other one-to-one mentoring programs – in the community, at schools and at places of work (police departments). With 99% of BBBSM Littles being from families of African American, Hispanic, or mixed/other descent, Bigs in Blue has the added benefit of establishing and strengthening trust between communities of color and law enforcement.

Group Engagement and Mentoring (GEM) provides enhanced programming for youth who are waiting to be matched with a Big, as well as for those who are already matched. Youth in the programs engage in activities that have a positive impacts in one or more of five key areas, known as the BIG5 – Academic Enrichment, Career Pathways, Digital Literacy, Health & Wellness, and Music & the Arts.

Continuing Education programs provide post-secondary readiness programming, both to Littles in high school and to those who already graduated high school. With a combination of college success coaching through Take Stock in Children, workshops and career panels at the Carnival Center for Excellence, and college fairs at local institutions of higher education, the Continuing Education programs ensure that Littles are aware of all post-secondary options available to them.

Continuing Education also includes a scholarship component. Littles who are served through Take Stock in Children receive a full scholarship through the Florida Pre-Paid Program, and all graduating seniors have the opportunity to apply for a variety of scholarships through the Five Millers Scholarship Program, which includes scholarships from the Carnival Foundation, the Take Charge Foundation, the Lori Brener Memorial Scholarship Fund, and more.