Impact and Programs
Accomplishments
In 2020, BBBS and our 2,200 volunteer mentors (“Bigs”) served 3,335 Twin Cities youth (“Littles”). Remarkably, during the pandemic we had less than a 10% decline in volunteers and youth from 2019. In the face of COVID-19, our staff quickly adapted programming to keep everyone safe and healthy. And new matches continued; last year we recruited and trained volunteer mentors and made 347 new 1:1 matches.
Having healthy relationships with adults is a strong predictor of ongoing success for youth. In 2020, 94% of BBBS-mentored youth graduated on time. In contrast, Twin Cities schools have reported a rate of only 70% for students in low-income households (a comparable group).
Our latest data also show that, for surveyed youth mentored at least one year: 91% stayed on track or improved academic performance; 94% stayed on track or improved social competence and social acceptance; 87% stayed on track or improved feelings of trust of their parents; 95% stayed on track or improved educational expectations; and 94% had plans for post-secondary training or college.
Research demonstrates that life-changing mentoring relationships have long-term impacts for young people, through improved educational outcomes that lead to increased earned income, as well as improved health and well-being. Economist Phillip Levine documents a return on investment of 5 to 1 – for every $1 spent on mentoring, young people receive at least $5 in benefits over their lifetimes.
Current Goals
(1) Serve 3,340 youth across all programs in calendar year 2021;
(2) Leverage partnerships with more than 2,200 community-based, corporate and college volunteers to support mentoring programs;
(3) Improve the quality and content of training provided to mentors to help them better support healthy youth development;
(4) Build community in our new location to strengthen ties to North Minneapolis, create new enrichment activities for youth, and provide increased support to families through community partnerships;
(5) Partner with the Hope Community School on St. Paul’s East Side to launch a new school-based mentoring program serving the Hmong and Karen communities;
(6) Create a staff-led JEDI Committee that aims to develop, implement, and sustain actions that reflect and foster our BBBS values, and that connects JEDI to our mission and stakeholders, especially youth and families; and
(7) Increase recruitment and retention of staff who reflect the youth and families we serve.
Community or Constituency Served
Our professional staff partner with youth ages 5 to 21 and their families as well as more than 2,200 volunteers. Young people served are diverse, including 85% of youth who identify as BIPOC. Many youth engaged in programming are affected by trauma and are currently facing adversity due to living in under-resourced communities and experiencing other barriers. This includes 85% who live in households that are low-income, and 82% in households headed by a single parent, guardian or in foster care.
In 2020, 57% of youth served identified as Black/African American, 13% White, 12% Hispanic/Latinx, 6% multiracial, 2% Asian, 2% American Indian, and 8% other/unknown. Age ranges from five to 21, with more than 75% between the ages of 10 and 15. Fifty-six percent identified their gender as female, and 46% as male.
Geographic Area Served
BBBS serves youth from across the Twin Cities metro area (including Hennepin, Ramsey, Washington, Anoka, and Dakota Counties), with a majority residing in Minneapolis and St. Paul.
