Happy New Year to our Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Lowcountry family! We hope you are staying warm and setting exciting goals for 2025, and that the start of a new semester is reinvigorating our Littles’ love for learning. We, too, are looking forward to the future and have exciting events coming up, including our Escape in 60 match activity (which sold out in the first 24 hours it was launched!) We hope to see as many of our Bigs as possible at Holy City on January 23 for great beer and excellent company. If you cannot make it, know that we are so appreciative of your enduring support of our Littles and their families.
BIG APPRECIATION EVENT @ Holy City
When: Thursday, January 23rd 5-7pm
Where: Holy City Brewing, 1021 Aragon Ave, Charleston, SC 29405
Why: It’s National Mentoring Month, and we are honoring/recognizing our Bigs for their dedication to mentorship!
Meet Keely Telfer, Our New Development Director
Keely arrives at BBBSL with nearly a decade of non-profit and leadership experience. Having worked in various sectors of outreach, education, and career services, Keely is now focused on nonprofit development.
Keely has championed numerous initiatives, striving to create lasting impact and drive social change. When she learned about Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Lowcountry’s mission and values, Keely knew this was the perfect place for her to grow and contribute.
Keely is elated to have joined the BBBS of the Lowcountry team in January 2025!
An Update from THE BIG BEYOND
Last December, BIG Beyond Scholars attended an Emotional Intelligence Speaker Series with Rev. Dr. Marion Platt, Executive Director of Star Gospel Mission. Dr. Platt is the operative strategist of Charleston’s oldest independent, faith-based charity and has served as an Adjunct Faculty member of Trevecca Nazarene University in Nashville, TN. Dr. Platt discussed the benefits of emotional intelligence, including improved conflict resolution skills, decision-making abilities, leadership capacity, teamwork skills, personal relationships, college success rates, and salaries.
Also in December, KJ Kearney facilitated an Entrepreneurship and Social Media Influencer Speaker Series, sharing strategies, tips, and tools on how he cracked the code to make second-stream profits and income. KJ is a community organizer and the founder of the 2024 James Beard Award-winning social media account, Black Food Fridays. Black Food Fridays is a call to action, encouraging all to be intentional with their support of Black-owned food and beverage businesses through purchasing from them every Friday. KJ is also an educator and the Community Engagement Program and Project Manager at the Charleston Promise Neighborhood nonprofit organization.
KJ shared that “successful people are able to distinguish the obvious from the important.” A few highlights on how to make income on your own terms as a social media influencer:
- The WHY matters. Everything in your life has a purpose. Does your purpose exist for the greater good of the group?
- Be consistent with your fan base
- Be great with small talk
- Be a great interviewer and active listener — ask more questions!
- Show interest in people — it can bring their guard down
Finally, in what is very EXCITING news for the BIG Beyond…Shaneak Brown, Senior Manager of Government and Regulatory Affairs at The Comcast Foundation, presented Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Lowcountry with a $15,000 Comcast Foundation Grant, supporting our BIG Beyond Scholar Program. In addition to this incredible contribution, The Comcast Foundation surprised our scholars with a personal laptop!
Safety Focus: DRESSING FOR COLD WEATHER
Brrr…it’s cold out here! Living in the Lowcountry, we can sometimes be surprised by out-of-the-ordinary cold days. You can help your Little by asking them how they would get ready for a cold day, with a focus on staying warm and comfortable:
- Hands: Mittens or gloves
- Feet: Thick socks and sneakers or boots
- Head: Earmuffs, headbands, hats, or hoods
- Neck: Scarf
- Body: Long-sleeved, Sweatshirt or Sweater, Jacket or Coat
Your Little can set reminders to check the weather forecast each morning and make sure they are prepared for surprise cold days.