Michael Kraft
Florence Parks is serious about the power of mentoring. Like yell it from the mountaintop serious.
She credits her childhood neighbor, Laura Fox, with taking an interest in her as a young girl. Ostensibly hired to babysit Ms. Fox’s child, the woman saw something in middle-school-aged Florence and recognized her need for guidance and support. When I interviewed her, Florence was Executive Director of Big Brothers Big Sisters of the North Coast, where she got to see the results of positive adult mentors, “Bigs,” every day.
Florence studies neuroscience and mentoring. The research says that young people need adult mentors, ideally five or more, to provide “a protective circle.” Not having any is a recipe for disaster. Those five grown-ups who should be in a kid’s life include informal mentors: aunts and uncles, teachers, clergy and, as in Florence’s own case, kind neighbors. Bigs provide additional, and typically more formal, mentorship that comes with training.
Begun in 1969 by a probation officer who saw the need for a local program, Humboldt’s Big Brothers Big Sisters organization was the 26th to be founded in the nation. Now there are well over 200.
Staffed locally these days by a small team—Jacqueline, Frankie and Kiara—the rubber meets the road with the Bigs. Staff recruit and orient the mentors, and match them with their proteges, the “Littles.”
Bigs represent a diverse group: retired folks and college students, busy people and people seeking to fill time meaningfully by volunteering. The biggest number are in their 30’s, but ages run the gamut.
Littles epitomize the diversity of the community. There’s poverty, to be sure, including generational poverty. There are youths from single parent homes. Still, overall, the population of Littles looks like the young people of Humboldt County.
At present, there are 40 youths ready to be matched, and the organization’s goals are to match 28 more pairs than they did last year. So, from now until September, staff are prioritizing the recruitment of new Bigs. Friends who participate tell me that they find it to be among the most meaningful activities they engage in. At this link, you can start the process of becoming a Big.
The organization also needs money. Florence expects need to rise—”a tidal wave is coming,” she says—and grant resources have already waned. As always, Humboldt has proven to be supportive. Now Big Brothers Big Sisters seeks 280 new donors to donate $25 a month. This would cover the shortfall. You can join the effort here: becoming a monthly donor.
And while the organization already enjoys a dynamic board of directors, Florence says they are always open to new people with a passion to pitch in.
Florence likes to invoke the African notion of Ubuntu, which Google translates to “humanity towards others” or “I am because we are,” and Florence translates to “I am my brother’s keeper.” To investigate becoming a big, volunteering in other ways, donating or serving on the board, go to https://www.ncbbbs.org/index.php.
In the end, it’s about that power of mentoring, of positive connection in a young person’s development, and how our community can wrap our arms around local youth to allow them to become the best people they can be.
Michael Kraft writes the Good Work series, volunteering on behalf of the Northern California Association of Nonprofits (NorCAN). NorCAN supports connections between people and organizations that work every day to keep our communities healthy and strong by offering professional development, board support, networking connections and more. Learn more at https://norcal-nonprofits.org/. To nominate a deserving nonprofit organization to be profiled, email michael@kraftconsultants.com.
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