Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Greater Twin Cities

Each year, bbbs Twin Cities partners with more than 2,200 youth and their families through mentorship programs, including community-based mentoring, school-based mentoring, our Big futures program which offers career and future readiness for teens, and free arts. Programming is supported by professional staff and more than 1,400 volunteers. A recent report by the search institute affirms that decades of research support the positive impact of mentorship on measures of long-term well-being for youth.our latest data show that youth report strong results in key developmental areas that lead to long-term success including educational persistence, making healthy choices, and developing social emotional skills necessary for personal success. For surveyed youth mentored at least one year:-90% reported maintaining and strengthening educational expectations including high school completion and going to college.-88% reported maintaining and strengthening grades and academic performance.-87% reported maintaining and strengthening social competenance and emotional regulation skills.-83% reported maintaining and strengthening school connectedness, such as feeling good at school, enjoying being in school and working hard.-93% reported having a special adult in their lives who encourages and cares about them.research demonstrates that high school graduation is a strong predictor of increased income and well-being over a lifetime. In 2023, 86% of bbbs-mentored seniors graduated on time. Research has also demonstrated that longer matches are more impactful and provide more long-term benefits. On average, bbbs community-based matches last more than four years, 40% higher than the national average across all bbbsa agencies. Many matches last, literally, for a lifetime.