A Call to Action for One Million Mentors!

ESSENCE CARES, an exciting mentoring initiative of ESSENCE magazine, is providing strong leadership in mobilizing the African-American community to secure the future of disadvantaged youth. Big Brothers Big Sisters is a prominent partner in this initiative.

On May 31st and June 29th, The Oprah Show  focused on mentoring programs that work, with Oprah delivering a “call to action” asking for 1 million adults to volunteer as mentors for children in their communities.  In response to this “call to action,” the ESSENCE CARES website had links to the Big Brothers Big Sisters’ website and had a phone line set up to faciliate the volunteering process.

“With all of us standing together, linking arms and aims, we will create a new future for the many vulnerable African-American children,” said Susan Taylor, Editorial Director of ESSENCE Magazine. “The ESSENCE family (is excited to be) working with Big Brothers Big Sisters”.

Big Brothers Big Sisters played a key role in advocating for mentors at the 2006 ESSENCE Music Festival, the largest annual African-American gathering in the country. A power-packed line-up of stars provided fabulous music, great entertainment, and provided a serious message to the thousands who attended:  volunteers are needed — urgently — to make a difference in the lives of African-American youth. Celebrities, including Mary J. Blige, Jill Scott, and Jamie Foxx, talked about the need for African-American men to give back to the community and help a boy realize his fullest potential. And women were encouraged to persuade one significant man in their lives to be a Big Brother.

The movement continued with the 2007 Music festival was held July 5-7th at the Louisiana Superdome in New Orleans. The need for men to get involved was deeply incorporated in this major American cultural event.

As thousands African-American men in the Big Brothers Big Sisters family have learned already, sometimes volunteers get as much out of the experience (and have as much fun) as the kids do!

Volunteer today  or donate now and raise your hand to be part of something Big!

The life you change may be your own!

Essence and Essence Cares are trademarks of the Essence Communications Inc. and are used with permission.