Big Brothers Big Sisters of Eastern Massachusetts and Boston Public Schools Continue Expansion of Technology-Enhanced Mentoring Program

Innovative Mentor 2.0 program to launch this Fall at the Madison Park Technical Vocational High School in Roxbury

Boston – May 2021 – Big Brothers Big Sisters of Eastern Massachusetts (BBBSEM), one of the nation’s leading one-to-one mentoring programs for youth and the largest Big Brothers Big Sisters affiliate in New England, today announced the expansion of its innovative technology-enhanced mentoring program, Mentor 2.0. The program provides transformative one-to-one mentoring support to empower the potential of high school students and prepare them for high school success and workforce readiness. Launched in 2016 at the Boston Green Academy in Brighton, expanding to the Fenway area’s Edward M. Kennedy Academy of Health Careers in 2017, and again to the Community Academy of Science and Health in Dorchester in 2019, this first-of-its-kind program in the City of Boston will now be available at the Madison Park Technical Vocational High School (MPTVHS) in Roxbury in the Fall of 2021.

“Madison Park Technical Vocational HS looks forward to partnering with Big Brothers Big Sisters in an effort to provide outstanding programming, mentoring, and support for our students.  Big Brothers Big Sisters is a well-known entity in our community and we are very fortunate to forge a relationship with their organization.” said Head of School, Kevin McCaskill.

Mentor 2.0 curriculum is designed to help students develop the knowledge, skills and mindset necessary to be successful high school students, create an ambitious individual post-secondary college or career plan and successfully execute that plan. Students attend weekly classes taught by a BBBSEM Mentor 2.0 Coordinator embedded in the school which are augmented by regular assignments and communication between mentors and students via an online portal. Monthly in-person events are also held to strengthen the bond between students and their mentors.

“Mentorship saved my life.  I wouldn’t be here today without it.  Big Brother Big Sisters of Eastern Massachusetts will provide the mentorship many of my students need and help to secure a positive trajectory for many of my student’s future.”  said Terrance Johnson, Assistant Head of School.

“There is tremendous value in our partnership with Boston Public Schools and we are thrilled to have expanded our Mentor 2.0 Program to Madison Park Vocational Technical High School.” said Mark O’Donnell, President and CEO of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Eastern Massachusetts. “This is an exciting opportunity to showcase the impact of mentorship and engage and inspire the next generation of trade workers.”

Sophomores in the Civic Infrastructure Academy will be matched with their mentors at the start of the 2021-2022 school year. For more information about the program and how to become a mentor in the program, please visit emassbigs.org.

About Big Brothers Big Sisters of Eastern Massachusetts

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Eastern Massachusetts is the state’s leading one-to-one mentoring program for youth. The nonprofit partners with under-resourced families to provide children with one-to-one relationships with caring adult mentors who help them reach their fullest potential. With research and proven outcomes at its core, the nonprofit creates Big-Little matches based on shared interests, geography and personality and serves as a consistent resource for Bigs, Littles and their families. Throughout its 70 years, the largest Big Brothers Big Sisters affiliate in New England has created and served more than 20,000 matches and will serve even more this year. For more information, visit: www.emassbigs.org.