DIVERSITY, EQUITY, AND INCLUSION Resources for Mentors in light of Recent Events

Dear BBBS matches, This is the second installment in a weekly series of addressing diversity, equity, and inclusion in our BBBS family. This week, we'd like to see how these conversations are going as you all start to reconnect after COVID-19. Below is some feedback we've gotten from a couple Bigs and Parents about what our Littles have absorbed over this time. We welcome your feedback and questions, and we thank you for your time and intentionality!

Past DEI Emails:

Week 1 Link: 3 Tips for Bigs: Assumptions, Privilege, and Building Bridges

How Youth Learn and How to Engage with Them

Younger kids will often echo what their parents and adult mentors say. Teens will often echo what their peers say.

FIRST Make sure that Bigs and Parents are on the same page about: whether to approach this topic or to just have fun what to do if the Child brings it up him/herself THEN We want to focus on asking open-ended questions suspending judgment and providing a safe environment developing critical thinking abilities helping the Little process feelings and emotions to figure out what s/he feels; everyone thinks and/or mourns differently repeat back what you think you heard / understood to check for clarity ALWAYS Come back to your relationship growing confidence in your Little (click links for more information)

"I want to be careful to focus on listening to my little - to helping him through how he feels, not repeat what he thinks I feel." Donnevin, Big Brother

Click here if you'd like to sign your Little / Child up to be able to talk with some of our Bigs who are police officers, if we arrange an event around this.

Please answer the following questions so we can better serve you, your match, and our communities :

Has your Little / Child already brought up this topic to you? Yes Select No Select

My Little / Child seems to get most of his/her information about the protests and news from: family Select friends Select social media Select nowhere; s/he just focuses on kid things Select

"I didn't even know it, but my son asked his Big on his own why one color is better than another. I'm so glad that they got to sit and talk it out. Sounds like both of them learned something." Tahnea, Mother

Would you be interested in a Zoom call with other Parents and Bigs about how to approach these topics with your Little / Child? Interested? Yes, I am interested Select No, I am NOT Select

More Resources:

Clip from Grey's Anatomy about parents having a different "Talk" with their son.

Staff members will be reading "Critical Mentoring" and discussing on Thursday mornings beginning 6/18: you're welcome to join! Reach out and let us know you're interested.

Thank you for all you do, and please don't hesitate to reach out to us at 260-456-1600.

Learn More

‌ ‌ ‌ ‌

260.456.1600 | www.bbbsnei.org