Big Brothers Big Sisters of Massachusetts Bay and Boston Public Schools Unveil Expansion of Technology-enhanced Mentoring Program

Innovative Mentor 2.0 program now offered at the Community Academy of Science and Health

Boston – June 19, 2019 – Big Brothers Big Sisters of Massachusetts Bay (BBBSMB), 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, which provides transformative one-to-one support for low-income and first-generation high school students to prepare them for high school success, college matriculation and workforce readiness. Launched in 2016 at the Boston Green Academy in Brighton and expanded to the Fenway area’s Edward M. Kennedy Academy of Health Careers in 2017, this first-of-its-kind program in the City of Boston will now be available at the Community Academy of Science and Health (C.A.S.H.) in Dorchester.

With a focus on helping students form a post-secondary education and career plan, all ninth grade students at the C.A.S.H. will be matched with a mentor whom will remain with them through high school graduation. Each subsequent year, incoming ninth graders will receive a mentor for the duration of their high school experience so that every student in the school receives one-on-one support and guidance. With the school’s focus on science and health careers, students will be paired with mentors that are health and life sciences professionals to provide the most beneficial and enriching experience.

“Bringing Mentor 2.0 to the C.A.S.H. means that our students will have an added layer of support and guidance as they navigate high school, college matriculation and entering the workforce,” said Ms. Robin Lee, headmaster of the C.A.S.H. “College success classes coupled with the support of a dedicated mentor will put our students one step closer to their goals.”

Mentor 2.0 curriculum is designed to help students develop the knowledge, skills and mindsets 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 college success classes taught by a BBBSMB Program 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. National results show that the Mentor 2.0 program is working; 97 percent of Mentor 2.0 students completed college applications, 88 percent expect to earn a college degree and 93 percent say their mentor is someone they trust and depend on.

“Adding a third school is a major milestone in our partnership with Boston Public Schools and in the growth of the Mentor 2.0 program,” said Wendy Foster, President and CEO of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Massachusetts Bay. “We’ve seen that students in the program are more likely than their peers to enroll in college and more likely to persist into their sophomore year, and we look forward to seeing the successes of the C.A.S.H. students with the guidance of their mentors.”

Ninth-grade students will be matched with their mentors at the start of the 2019-2020 school year, and 100 volunteers are needed to ensure every student at C.A.S.H. has a mentor. To match incoming ninth-grade students at all Mentor 2.0 schools with a mentor, BBBSMB is seeking more than 300 volunteers total. With Mentor 2.0’s focus on technology, it’s never been easier to become a mentor. Pairs meet in-person once a month at the school, and Bigs provide additional support online.

For more information about the program and becoming a Big, please visit www.bbbsmb.org/about/programs/mentor-2-0/.

About Big Brothers Big Sisters of Massachusetts Bay
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Massachusetts Bay is an innovative, energetic organization that is making a real difference in the lives of more than 3,200 youth annually by providing them with an invested, caring adult mentor. With research and proven outcomes at its core, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Massachusetts Bay is working to defend the potential of children facing adversity and ensure every child has the support from caring adults that they need for healthy development and success in life. The organization’s vision is to inspire, engage and transform communities in Massachusetts Bay by helping youth achieve their full potential, contributing to healthier families, better schools, more confident futures and stronger communities. For more information about this worthwhile cause and its important mission, visit www.massbaybigs.org.