Big Brothers Big Sisters volunteers sought in Charleroi
By Taylor Brown
tbrown@yourmvi.com
Volunteers are needed to help kick start the second year of Big Brothers Big Sisters in the Charleroi Area School District.
Pam Slomiany, program manager for the Charleroi Mentor 2.0 program, said the program secured funding and was brought to the district last year to help freshmen navigate high school.
Through non-cognitive skills like goal setting and perseverance, 23 freshmen were partnered last year with mentors from the area who met with them online once a week.
Once a month, the mentors and students met in person to share dinner and complete an activity.
“The district approached us about bringing the program to Charleroi, which was great,” Slomiany said. “It has been a good partnership for us. The guidance counselors and other staff are so supportive, so we are thankful to see this continue this year.”
On Wednesday, students and their mentors gathered at a Charleroi park to celebrate their first year together.
“It was the first time the mentors and their mentees had seen each other since April,” Slomiany said. “So it was really exciting for them to be together again. Over the past year, even though the pandemic and online learning changed things, seeing all of these friendships build over the past year has been really special, for both mentors and students.”
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