PROGRAMS

COMMUNITY - BASED MENTORING

Our largest one-to-one mentoring program matches girls between the ages of 7-15 with a Big Sister. These Little Sisters meet individually with their Big Sisters at a date and time of their choosing, and engage in low- to no-cost activities that can range from baking to basketball, watching movies to simply talking with each other. Big and Little Sisters commit to at least one year together, meeting weekly for the first three months and then twice per month. Matches in our Community-Based program are matched for an average of nearly four years.

Big For A Day

Girls who are enrolled with us in Community-Based Mentoring, but not yet matched with a Big Sister can participate in a monthly group activity with a Big for a Day volunteer led by our staff. Girls who are waiting to be matched are engaged with us from the start. We host many exciting programs for participants in Big for a Day including, yoga, self-defense, painting, engineering projects, and tennis.

SITE-BASED MENTORING

Our Site-Based Mentoring programs take place in schools and community centers in Boston and Cambridge. Big and Little Sisters meet once a week during the school day or their after-school program, and commit to at least three academic semesters together, excluding summer break and school holidays. During visits they read books, learn new skills, work on projects of their mutual choosing, or engage in physical activities. Site-Based Mentoring creates a safe space for girls to have fun, learn, and grow alongside their Big Sisters during their busy school day. Our matches last an average of 32 months in our Site-Based program.

High School Mentoring

This unique program takes place in Dorchester with teen students from Boston Latin Academy who mentor Little Sisters at the Trotter Innovation School. The teen Big Sisters also participate in our Girls Leadership Program (GLP) facilitated by our staff. The GLP provides girls with leadership training needed to have a positive impact on their schools and communities. Topics include conflict resolution, communication skills, and career exploration.

Workplace Mentoring

Girls have the opportunity to think big about their futures in this program. Workplace Mentoring pairs employees at a company with Little Sisters from a local school. Little Sisters meet with their Big Sisters at the company’s office, providing a meaningful mentoring experience, and valuable career awareness for girls. Today, Workplace Mentoring matches meet virtually and in-person under the supervision of our staff.

Our Big Futures

Our Big Futures is a workforce development program for current and former Little Sisters, and High School Mentoring Big Sisters, ages 14-24. This program provides individualized coaching on career/college, scholarship, and financial planning; access to resources and workshops; and leadership opportunities, such as the Junior Advisory Board.

New Girls Network

As part of our continuum of mentoring, New Girls Network is an opportunity for our Big Sisters and staff to be paired with seasoned professional women in a year-long, one-toone mentoring relationship to further their personal and professional growth. This network encourages women to connect with each other across Greater Boston in a supportive, professional space.

community partner OF THE YEAR

Salem State University

“At Salem State’s Bertolon School of Business we believe the best curriculum innovations happen through supporting and collaborating with organizations in the communities we serve. Big Sister’s mission to ignite girl’s passion and power through positive mentoring relationships is closely aligned with our mission and goals. We are grateful to have an opportunity to work with Big Sister and to help them provide gender intentional mentoring to more young girls.”

Don White, Assistant Dean, Ber tolon School of Business