So many ways to get started
Mentoring is a practice that many Native communities and tribes have always known. In the past, cultural heritage was passed along to the next generation by elders, leaders, teachers, and parents — by mentors who gave their time and expertise to teach and guide their youth. Mentoring promotes positive relationships and fosters healthy communities. A friend that accepts meAt Big Brothers Big Sisters, we recognize that children benefit from focused encouragement to help them reach their full potential. One component to mentoring’s long-term success is connecting a child with a positive friend who simply understands the child’s background and accepts them as they are. We acknowledge the many different tribes of the Pacific Northwest and welcome families from other Nations who have moved or relocated to this territory for academic, economic, health/medical, or other circumstances or reasons. We understand that Native children can have a varied understanding of their cultural heritage and cultural identity, depending upon the experiences of their families and tribal affiliations. In many Native communities, elders earn their positions and respect throughout the years and gain wisdom with age. In other Native communities, a person with particular skills may be identified as a mentor by their community or their elders as someone of esteem and expertise. Essentially, mentors can be any age – they can have any variety of talents or skills; mentors are members of our communities who give of their time and abilities. As a Big Brother, Sister or Couple, you’ll introduce your Little Brother or Sister to opportunities and experiences that will broaden their horizons — just by being yourself and doing what you do well. In fact, being a volunteer is a lot of fun, and many of our mentors wish they had signed up sooner. Become a Big Brother, Sister or Couple Native American Mentoring Council Together we can make a difference and provide more hope and opportunity to our local Native American community. The Mentoring Council is designed to both encourage and recruit greater numbers of Native American children and adults to participate and operate in partnership with community organizations. Help us ensure our programmatic approaches are culturally relevant, strategic and sustainable for the future, and become a member of the mentoring council to help with the following:
Additional contributions can be made by helping to create a partnership with a Native American organization or business. To learn more about the Native American Mentoring Program or the Mentoring Council, please contact andrea.robideau@bbbsnorthwest.org. |
