Big Brothers and Big Sisters of Metropolitan Milwaukee Inc

Overview

Big Brothers and Big Sisters of Metropolitan Milwaukee Inc. is a non-profit organization dedicated to creating and supporting one-to-one mentoring relationships to empower the youth in Milwaukee and Waukesha counties. The organization's mission is to ignite the power and promise of young individuals, helping them succeed and thrive.

History

Big Brothers and Big Sisters of Metro Milwaukee has been a pivotal force in the community since its establishment, following in the footsteps of Big Brothers Big Sisters of America (BBBSA), which was founded in 1904. BBBSA is the oldest and largest youth mentoring organization in the United States, and Big Brothers and Big Sisters of Metro Milwaukee operates as an independent affiliate under its umbrella.

Mission and Vision

• Mission: To create and support one-to-one mentoring relationships that ignite the power and promise of youth.
• Vision: All youth achieve their full potential.

Programs and Outcomes

The organization focuses on providing "best in class" one-to-one mentoring services to children facing adversity. Through strong mentorship relationships, youth achieve:

• Educational Success
• Avoidance of Risky Behaviors
• Social and Emotional Development

In recent years, Big Brothers and Big Sisters of Metro Milwaukee has reported significant outcomes, including high school graduation rates, reduced involvement in the juvenile justice system, and improvements in social acceptance and positive peer relationships. For example, in 2023, 85% of seniors graduated from high school on time, and 99% of the youth avoided involvement in the juvenile justice system.

Community Impact

The program delivers approximately 70,000 hours of mentorship annually, serving over 1,500 youth in 2023. Despite these achievements, there remains a strong demand for services, with over 500 youth on the waitlist. The organization aims to continue growing and serving more youth in the coming years.

Affiliation and Recognition

Big Brothers and Big Sisters of Metro Milwaukee is an affiliate of Big Brothers Big Sisters of America, benefiting from national standards, research, program development, evaluation systems, and shared best practices across nearly 250 affiliates. The organization has been recognized as a "Quality" Agency by the Nationwide Leadership Council of Big Brothers Big Sisters of America for its outstanding performance, including high retention rates and financial stability.

Leadership and Governance

The organization is led by a board of directors comprising diverse professionals from various sectors, including finance, law, and education. These leaders guide the organization in fulfilling its mission and ensuring its financial and operational stability.

[1] https://www.volunteerwisconsin.org/agency/detail/?agency_id=46410 [2] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Big_Brothers_Big_Sisters_of_America [3] https://www.milwaukeementor.com/blog/the-mentoring-effect/empowering-youth-through-one-to-one-mentoring-a-spotlight-on-big-brothers-big-sisters-of-metro-milwaukee/ [4] https://www.bbbsmilwaukee.org/about/ [5] https://www.guidestar.org/profile/39-1239687