Native American Mentoring Initiative

Big Brothers Big Sisters’ Native American Mentoring initiative, was created to increase and improve our services to Native American children nationwide. The program is designed to both encourage and recruit greater numbers of Native American children and adults to participate. The program is run under the guidance of formal and informal American Indian/Alaska Native Advisors and elders, American Indian/Alaska Native board members, and community organizations to help ensure our programmatic approaches are culturally relevant, strategic and sustainable for the future.

Currently, there are 30 agencies participating in 16 states, with program expansion to other sites planned in the coming years. Native American volunteers and children can participate with BBBS agencies outside these 30 agencies by contacting any local agency.

Steps we’re taking – building best practices and the program:

• We are committed to make at least 2,125 new Native American matches in 30 target agencies by the end of 2010.
• We are encouraging participating agencies to employ a Native American Advisor and create an Advisory Council, to enhance Native participation and gain insight into various tribal practices.
• We are focusing on increasing diversity, not only through the children we serve, but in staff and board members as well. We are encouraging Native Americans to apply for open positions. (To search open positions in the organization, click here.)

Steps you can take:

Find out more information on how to be a Big Brother or Big Sister ... or Volunteer now!

Donate online to help expand staff we need to support our mentoring matches.

Contact your local BBBS agency to volunteer to be a Native American Advisor or Board member.

Contact your local BBBS agency to help create a partnership with a Native American tribe, organization or business.