City Commission on the Status of Black Males partners with Big Brothers Big Sisters on mentoring initiative

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Nov. 26, 2012

For more information, please contact:
Craig Brenner, Special Projects Coordinator, City of Bloomington Department of Community and Family Resources, 349.3471
Greg Tourner, Chair, City of Bloomington Commission on the Status of Black Males, 361.8377
Tom Saccone, Executive Director, Big Brothers Big Sisters of South Central Indiana, 334.2828


City Commission on the Status of Black Males partners with Big Brothers Big Sisters on mentoring initiative

Bloomington, Ind. - Mayor Mark Kruzan announced a continuation of the mentoring partnership between the City of Bloomington Commission on the Status of Black Males and Big Brothers Big Sisters (BBBS) of South Central Indiana. The partnership helps identify adult males to mentor black male youth.

"Big Brothers Big Sisters continues to make positive impacts on children and empowers them to succeed," said Kruzan. "We are excited about our continuing, local partnership with Big Brothers Big Sisters of South Central Indiana, a partnership that our Commission on the Status of Black Males helped create. We invite all those interested in helping us mentor our youth to attend our second 'call out' for mentors."

Big Brothers Big Sisters pairs children with adults identified by the Commission and screened by BBBS, resulting in in-school, one-to-one mentoring for one hour per week. Along with individual mentoring in schools there will be group activities and field trips, such as visits to IU athletic events. Mentors are also encouraged to meet every four-to-six weeks with representatives of the Commission to share mentoring experiences and best practices.

The mentoring call out will take place at 6 p.m. on Nov. 28 at the Monroe County History Center, 202 E. Sixth St. This event will include testimonials from the Rev. Dennis Laffoon, pastor at Bethel AME Church and a member of the City's Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Commission; Charlie Nelms, former vice president for institutional development and student affairs for Indiana University; Beverly Smith, director of school and community services at the Monroe County Community School Corporation; and details of the mentoring initiative. Big Brothers Big Sisters will be on hand to sign up adult mentors. African American men in particular are invited to learn about this partnership and how they can positively influence local youth.

For more information about the mentoring initiative contact [mailto:csbm@bloomington.in.gov].

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