Mentorship Blog

On May, 24, 2022, Big Brothers Big Sisters of America announced receipt of its largest gift ever received: $122.6 million from MacKenzie Scott. While Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Inland Northwest is not one of the 38 direct beneficiaries of this gift, this is yet another major validation for

Mentors know school isn’t just about classes and grades, it is about learning about yourself and how to navigate the world around you. The social aspect of school is very different than it used to be. Today, everything follows a kid home on social media, good and bad. Unfortunately, students

The first step to gaining self-esteem is to develop a sense of self and with so many messages from the media, peers, and family on how to be, it presents a real struggle for young people to understand who they are as a person. It is a common misconception amongst

Its Myth Buster time! A common myth about mentorship is the adult should have experienced a balanced or stable childhood to be a good role model for a youth today.    Who makes a good mentor?   Can the man who grew up in foster care be a mentor?  YES!  Can the

In our last blog, we talked about how mentoring helps families by teaching mentees life skills that can directly help in the home. In this installment we will look into how one-to-one youth mentoring helps the family dynamic via youth gaining self-esteem and avoiding risky behaviors. Often kids have a

It is well known that mentoring helps youth, but did you know that it can help families too? Kids want and need to learn about life, but sometimes the adults in their lives (including their teachers) are too tired and spread thin to take the time to teach them the

Mentoring is one of the most effective ways to guide young people toward lifelong happiness and success. And by adopting a one-to-one approach, mentoring can be an even more effective method for guidance, training, and education. Mentoring can be provided for groups as well as individuals. Each approach has its

Benefits of mentoring programs in general  Mentoring programs are among the most effective tools available for guidance, education, and training. Mentees in one-to-one mentoring programs stand to gain many of the same benefits provided by mentorships, including: An empowering setting for achieving personal growth and development Guidance on identifying and

Remembering Chris Gradoville: An Exceptional Mentor On September 30th, 2021, Chris Gradoville, Director of Baseball Operations at Creighton University and a former Big, was fatally wounded in Omaha, Nebraska. Chris was an upstanding community member, family man, and an amazing mentor. He was always there for his Little Brother, Charlie,

What Does A Mentor Do? Youth mentors play a remarkably important role in a young person's life. Adult mentors provide support and stability for children that may not have either of those at home. During younger years a child's development is crucial. Having a positive role model in their

What Is The Role Of A Mentor? Growing up is very difficult especially in today's day and age. Young persons have to navigate the unprecedented complexities of socializing in the digital age. They have to determine what they want to do with the rest of their life and get

What Makes A Great Mentor It’s no secret that mentorship can make a profound difference in the lives of high school students. Whether it's volunteering as a 1-1 Big Brother Big Sister match or visiting local high schoolers in the MentorU program, getting involved helps students and the community.