MENTOR

Seattle Works offers two opportunities to be a mentor, presented in collaboration with our wonderful nonprofit partners Big Brothers Big Sisters and Treehouse.

Team Big (Big Brothers Big Sisters)
Men's Mentoring Group (Treehouse)

 

Team Big

Remember playing pick-up games of baseball as a kid? Remember riding your bike through the neighborhood and swimming in the lake? Remember just being outside and running around, the joy of breathing in fresh air and the sense of freedom in open spaces? Remember playing together on a team and building long-lasting friendships?

You get to do that again! Join a team of Seattle Works volunteers and mentor a child through the MoveBIG! program at Big Brothers Big Sisters of Puget Sound. You will be paired with a child that has similar personality traits and interests as you do and enjoy hanging out at activities with other matched Bigs and Littles. You can make a difference in the life of a child while having a network of other Bigs to interact with as well! The friendship you form with a child will provide him or her with opportunities to grow and succeed in ways not possible before, and you too will find that you gain much more than you give.

The youth range in age from 7 years old to 16 years old, coming from diverse backgrounds and experiences. Men are matched exclusively with boys. Women can be matched with girls of any age or boys 12 years and younger. Activities generally revolve around sports and the outdoors; examples of previous events include going to a Children's Garden, sporting events, hiking and playing flag football with the team.

Time commitment: hang out with your Little two times per month for 12 months.

Requirements:.
- Attend an orientation at the BBBS office.
- Complete BBBS application and interview including background check, reference and driving record checks.
- Commit to hanging out with your Little at least twice a month. You may choose from a list of activities planned by BBBS, participate in the monthly Team Big activities or do something just with you and your Little.
- Help plan at least one group activity for Team Big per year (group activities are scheduled for the second Saturday of each month).
- Arrange transportation for Littles to all events. You may choose to pick your Little up, carpool with other team members and/or coordinate rides with the Little's parent/guardian.
- Make a budget with the Little's family; most BBBS events are either free or under $15.

Interested? Sign up by completing the Big Brothers Big Sisters application process. Of note: it is a fairly extensive series of steps to get matched - this is because Big Brothers Big Sisters wants to both ensure safety for the children they serve, and a great match. It's worth it!

Want to learn more? Contact BBBS's Andy McKee via email or at 206.763.9060 x230 or our very own Jan Burell.

Men's Mentoring Group

This will be the third year that we've had ten men team up with Treehouse to organize a series of group activities engaging adolescent boys affected by the foster care system. For the past two years, both the men and the boys have enjoyed a sense of camaraderie as they played video games, talked about careers, learned about our solar system, made tacos and ordered pizza. These events not only enriched the lives of the boys and helped the men connect more substantially with teens in the community, but they fostered self-confidence and positivity across the board. We have learned that a little connection goes a long way.

Join the 2009/2010 Men's Mentoring Group! Applications are due Wed, 9/23.

Time commitment:  one academic year

Requirements:
- Attend a Treehouse volunteer orientation (if you haven't already) 8/20, 9/3, 10/15 or 10/28, 6-7.15pm. RSVP to Treehouse
- Participate in the Men's Group planning meeting Wed 9/30 6.30pm at Montlake Ale House
- Attend group activities on at least six of the following scheduled dates: 10/21, 11/18, 12/16, 1/20, 2/24, 3/17, 4/21, 5/19. Activities take place Thursday evenings 6-8pm
- Join the men for a year-end celebration and debrief Wed 6/16, 6pm
- $50 program fee. All funds collected will go directly toward team activities; Treehouse will match all contributions.

Learn more and apply!

 

This program is in partnership with our friends at Treehouse.

Questions? Contact our Director of Volunteer Programs, Jan Burrell.