The local chapter of Big Brothers Big Sisters is holding an informational meeting for those interested in participating in the program, though director Burl Sheldon is encouraging those who just want to learn about mentoring strategies to attend, as well.
The event is 6 to 7 p.m. Monday in the community room at the library.
Sheldon said while the meeting is for adults thinking about becoming a Big Brother or Big Sister, it is also for those interested in helping young people succeed outside of the program.
“The Big Brothers Big Sisters program has some very valuable training info that we use in our program and while the agency is focused on mentee/mentor relationships that are between non-family members, the things that the agency has learned in 110 years of the business are pretty useful,” Sheldon said.
“I want to try to shine a light on some of that,” he added.
The session will also address what being a Big Brother or Big Sister entails, such as the time commitment, high-impact mentoring strategies and how to adjust mentoring strategies as the child ages and develops.
“A lot of people in this community have thought about being ‘Bigs.’ They have given it some thought and this will definitely help to answer that question for them,” Sheldon said.
Sheldon launched the program in Haines in 2003. It recently went on a 16-month hiatus due to funding issues, but was revived last fall.
The local chapter matches youths aged 5-17.