Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Greater Twin Cities

Enrollment and matching, community based mentoring, educational and teen programming, and free arts program: each year, bbbs Twin Cities partners with more than 2,500 youth and their families through mentorship programs. Programming is supported by professional staff and more than 1,600 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, for surveyed youth mentored at least one year: 95% reported maintaining or strengthening educational expectations including high school completion and enrollment in post-secondary training; 82% reported maintaining or strengthening grades and academic performance; 87% maintained or strengthened social emotional skills including social competence and emotional regulation; 89% reported maintaining or strengthening overall resilience, including measures of confidence and reduced depressive symptoms; and 99% 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 2022, 96% of bbbs-mentored seniors graduated on time. In contrast, Twin Cities schools reported graduation rates of 70% for students in low-income households, a comparable group. Research has also demonstrated that longer matches are more impactful and provide more long-term benefits. On average, bbbs matches last more than three years, higher than the national average across all bbbsa agencies. Many matches last, literally, for a lifetime.