CEO Corner June 2023
6/9/2023
🎓🎓 June has certainly been a month to remember with our youth wrapping up an unforgettable academic school year, especially students participating in our Mentor 2.0 program. This year we served Manchester West High School students in the classroom and partnered with businesses to provide each of them with a mentor through graduation.
Students have learned more about themselves, each other, their goals, and are developing the leadership skills they need to be successful after graduation. Down the newsletter below, you’ll see a surprise regarding Mentor 2.0!
After a lot to be positive about, my heart was then heavy after hearing news of a recent shooting at a graduation ceremony. As a mother of two school-aged boys and married to a school teacher, my heart goes out to those families. BBBSNH, including myself are thinking of all of our youth and the need to help them navigate this mental health crisis through mentorship.
Fear, anxiety, depression, isolation, and bullying are just a few things that our youth face and each of the 150 youth waiting needs someone in their corner. Can YOU step up to play a BIG role in our community? Students enrolled with a mentor are 40% more likely to graduate and 70% less likely to engage in risky behaviors such as substance misuse or skipping school.
🚨 I am sure you know someone that would be a wonderful mentor – we have flexible ways to volunteer your time, several hours a month and you can be 18 or 88. Visit our website to learn more.
It has certainly been a month of ups and downs, but we plan to end the month on a positive note so I hope that you will join us!
We are thrilled to be back at the PRIDE parade on June 24 to support our PRISM (Pride, Respect, Identity, Safety, Mentoring) program for all LGBTQ+ youth with Seacoast Outright.
We are nearly sold out for our Third Annual Pickleball Tournament & Fundraiser for the weekend of July 7. Join us this year for this game that is sweeping the nation, with prizes, and food trucks!
✈ In a few weeks, I will be off to California for our annual Big Brothers Big Sisters Conference: A Bold Path to a Big Future. I am excited to see my colleagues from over 220 BBBS affiliates across the county and share best practices with each other. More to come on that!
I also wanted to give a shout-out to our board member, Matt Becker, and Michael White, a former board member, and Big Brother for marrying their passion for music and mentoring! Last week the YellowHouse Jazz Band played at Jimmy’s Jazz Club to support BBBSNH mentoring and the Continued Arts Collaborative (CAC)
Check out the YellowHouse Jazz Band cover the late great, Jeff Beck here!
Stay well friends,
Stacy W. Kramer, CEO