JULY 2023
BIG NEWS
FEATURES
Have FUN With Us // BBBSL Activities And July Observances
Match Support Corner // Motivational Monday Support for Bigs & Parents/Caregivers
The BIG Beyond // Scholars To Attend National Leadership Conference
BBBSL Staff News // New Staff Announcement & Join Our Team!
BBBSL Reminders // Have You Completed Your Match Survey?
Keep Mentoring And Parenting Low-Cost // Free Kids’ Meal Resources
HAVE FUN WITH US! // BBBSL Sponsored/Supported Activities
📣🎉 Calling all game-loving Bigs and Littles! 🎲🃏🎮 Come indulge in your favorite board games, chess, checkers, Pokemon cards, and more! Final Round Games has a fantastic selection of games that will be available for everyone to enjoy. BBBSL will provide a Make-Your-Own-Trail-Mix snack bar, as well!
When: Sat., July 15 from 10AM to 12PM
Where: Final Round Games,
2408 Ashley River Rd (W. Ashley)
Who: Limited to the first 15 matches — few spaces remaining!
You are invited to our next Big Huddle, a virtual quarterly meeting for Bigs to discuss topics or supports needed for their matches. Each meeting consists of a presentation and open discussion involving Bigs and BBBSL staff. This month, our topic will be The BIG Experience! Discussion topics include:
- Round-robin Q&A with various Bigs: their journeys, barriers, and successes
- Healthy communication with Littles and Caregivers
- Mindfulness and fostering emotional intelligence
- Goal-setting and motivational mentoring
- Setting limits and boundaries for the mentor/mentee relationship
Click the Zoom link to join!
- July 4 // Independence Day; Patriots Point Fireworks Blast
- July 8 // Hold What Makes You Whole Poetry Reading and Workshop with Marcus Amaker (12 and up)
- July 8 // Shots With A Spin 2023 Wheelchair Basketball Tournament
- July 11 // Swimp laps at one of several Charleston public pools on National Swimming Pool Day
- July 16 // Enjoy an ice cream cone on a hot National Ice Cream Day in July at beloved local ice cream parlors
- July 23 // It’s National Parents Day — show your loved ones how much you care with a kind gesture or thoughtful card
- July 28 // Lucky for you, there are plenty of thrilling places to celebrate National Waterpark Day in the Charleston area!
- Any Day // Visit the recently opened International African American Museum ($9.95 for youth ages 6-16 and free for youth under age 6).
MATCH SUPPORT CORNER // Overpromising / Clarifying the Mentor’s Role in Discipline
In our two latest Motivational Monday videos, BBBSL CEO, Merridith Crowe shares insights on the following topics often discussed in match support conversations:
SUMMER FUN & OVERPROMISING // Do you ever find yourself in activity planning situations where you feel you overpromise and underperform? If you’ve faced abruptly changing plans, feelings of stagnancy, or pressure to overcommit, this video can help you come up with creative ways to spend your time together and involve your Little/Scholar in deciding how you interact.
Key Takeaways
- Schedules and routines are likely different; summer scheduling can be as challenging as it is run. Reach out to understand what your Little/Scholar’s time constraints are and to share your availability.
- Involve your Little/Scholar in coming up with out-of-the-box activities (i.e., they pick two completely new activities, and you do the same)
- Give your Little/Scholar positive reinforcement for trying new activities (i.e., indulge them with a funny TikTok if they try a new activity)
- Give your Little/Scholar positive reinforcement for trying new activities (i.e., indulge them with a funny TikTok if they try a new activity)
- Mistakes happen, and we sometimes have to change plans — if you promise without following through, communicate how you’re going to repair the relationship and follow through.
- Avoid overpromising by giving yourself and your Little time to think through ideas/suggestions
MENTORSHIP & DISCIPLINE // MENTORS—Have you ever felt confused about a mentor’s role with discipline/punishment? PARENTS/GUARDIANS—Have you ever wanted to seek support in influencing your child’s behavior? Watch the video below to receive answers to your needs and questions.
Key Takeaways
- Mentorship does NOT involve punishment and discipline — this keeps parents in the lead role, with the mentor serving as a friend/guide who can reinforce behaviors in collaboration with the parent.
- Parents/guardians agree that their child’s time with their Big is not to be used as punishment and should not be withholding time with mentors as part of a discipline or punishment strategy.
- We believe mentorship can assist the parenting relationship. Kids who have mentors feel more positive about their relationship with their guardian. Mentors can help by alleviating pressure and positively reinforcing desirable behavioral/developmental outcomes.
- Mentors should feel inspired to set boundaries and keep parents informed of any behavioral concerns. Parents can keep Bigs informed of important happenings and if they feel their parental authority is being infringed upon; in turn, Bigs can provide perspective and thoughtful conversation.
- In outings with the caregiver and Big present, it is on the parent to be the one who is disciplining or providing any behavioral corrections in the moment.
THE BIG BEYOND // Scholars To Attend July National Leadership Conference
What: Usher’s New Look Teen Voice Conference
Where: Atlanta, GA
When: July 20-22
Usher’s New Look has partnered with the Walton Family Foundation to survey youth from across the country to identify the topics or issues within their respective communities that are most important. We plan to send two BIG Beyond Scholars to this initiative and have their voices heard by completing this survey. The aim is to identify universal topics, engage youth leaders on how to motivate their peers to take action, and utilize the findings to provide youth a platform to be a part of the conversation to advocate for their interests and affect change.
BBBSL STAFF NEWS // New Staff Announcement & Join Our Team!
Welcome to Our New Match Coordinator, Avery Smith!
Originally from New York, Avery Smith graduated from High Point University with a bachelor’s degree in human relations and psychology and a minor in criminal justice. During that time, Avery worked at the YWCA as a youth counselor focusing on children’s social and emotional development. She has a love and passion for working with children and igniting their potential.
Prior to relocating to Charleston, Avery served as a Big Sister for three years! Her invaluable experience inspired her to seek full-time employment with Big Brothers Big Sisters, and she is so happy to be a part of the team in the Lowcountry. When Avery isn’t building relationships with volunteers and families, she enjoys spending time outdoors, reading, going to the beach, and watching her favorite shows.
We are currently seeking to hire TWO NEW POSITIONS:
- BIG Beyond Match Coordinator: The BIG Beyond Match Coordinator (BBMC) will assist our BIG Beyond Scholar Program participants achieve their full promise and potential with the support of a three-year curriculum-guided one-to-one career and college readiness virtual mentoring program. The BBMC will work closely with the BIG Beyond Career & College Readiness Manager to assure the creation and retention of strong, enduring one-to-one BIG Beyond mentoring relationships. CLICK HERE for the full job description. Interested candidates should send an updated resume and custom cover letter to hr@bbbslowcountry.org.
- Match Coordinator: The Match Coordinator will work on our program team to interview, qualify, and select Bigs for our high-potential, deserving Littles. CLICK HERE for the full job description. Interested candidates should send an updated resume and custom cover letter to hr@bbbslowcountry.org.
BBBSL REMINDERS // Have You Completed Your Monthly Match Survey?
KEEP MENTORING/PARENTING LOW-COST // Free Kids’ Meal Resources
