Big Brothers Big Sisters of Southwest Idaho is committed to defending the potential of our Littles, our families and our future. We are heartbroken over the death of George Floyd and the pain, anger and violence his death has sparked in so many communities across the country.

The staff and board of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Southwest Idaho is committed to creating relationships that celebrate our diversity and grow our connectedness. We are dedicated to working with others to build communities where everyone feels welcome, safe and included. We seek to peacefully remove obstacles for all young people by connecting them with a mentor who will be their cheerleader, friend, and defender.

​This work seems especially important for our children of color who too often are the victims of racism. If you feel called to act, we invite you to join us because, together, we are defenders of potential.

For more information about mental health, visit: www.PsychHub.com/selfcare or click the button below to download the resources. 

Our friends from Optum compiled a great list of resources for these challenging times.

March 12, 2020

​To our friends and family in the BBBS community,

At Big Brothers Big Sisters, we understand the uncertainty around the coronavirus can be
concerning. We care deeply about the mental and physical well-being of all of our Littles and

Bigs, which is why we wanted to reach out to all of you.
Right now, with new developments on the virus coming out every hour, it is important we all find
ways to support one another. Our Littles need to know their Bigs are still there to listen, have fun
and be a steady force in their lives. And Bigs, please know you can still safely interact with your
Little.

The coronavirus should not stand in the way of mentoring.
However, we all need to make smart choices and practicing good hyenine. Here are a few
recommendations from our team:
• If feel sick, please wait to get together with your Big or Little until you feel better. This is
always a good practice but even more important with concerns over the coronavirus and
flu season.
• You’ve heard it a lot by now but it’s worth repeating, wash your hands frequently. This
includes during your match activity. Always wash your hands before you eat, touch your
face and when you come home. If you can’t get to a sink, use alcohol-based hand sanitizer
instead.
• Try to avoid touching your face. – especially your eyes, nose and mouth. Make a game of it
during your outing. Who can touch their face the least, the Big or the Little?
• During your time together, consider avoiding places with large groups of people. Now may
be the perfect time to start that art project you’ve been talking about or finally build that
model airplane.

Most importantly, do what makes you the most comfortable. If you don’t feel like you can get
together in-person, catch up over the phone or video chat instead. There are lots of fun and
creative ways for you to stay connected. If you need ideas or want to talk through any of this
with our team, please call your Match Support Specialist.

For the latest, and most reliable, information on the coronavirus, we encourage you to visit the
Center for Disease Control. While we are the mentoring experts, they are experts on this virus.

Thank you for being part of our Big Brothers Big Sisters family.

Emily Johnson, CEO
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Southwest Idaho

Uncork your support for BBBS!

Once a month, Split Rail Winery gives back to the Treasure Valley by dedicating an evening where 30% of their profits are donated to a local Non-Profit. We are thrilled to announce that Big Brothers Big Sisters will be the recipient on March 4th, 2020.

When: March 4th from 5pm to 8pm
Where: Split Rail Winery, 4338 W. Chinden Blvd Garden City

Do you love prizes, SURprises, snacks, games, great wine and a great cause? Join us for an incredible evening where 30% of all wine sales will go back to BBBS to support our mentoring programs.

#winenotgive #defendersofpotential ​

 Are you a woman in a STEM profession?
Do you know someone that is?
Curious about our Women in STEM Program? 

We are thrilled to announce our first ever virtual informational session on February 25th from 12:00 PM to 12:30 PM MST.

In this half hour session, you will learn more about Big Brothers Big Sisters and the Women in STEM Program, including what it takes to be a Big Sister, who our Littles are, and what the enrollment process entails.
​
This is a no obligation event - all you need to do is click the link below and follow the prompts from Zoom (our virtual experience provider)!

JOIN THE ZOOM MEETING (do this on the day): https://zoom.us/j/947604547

ADD THE EVENT TO YOUR OUTLOOK/GMAIL/ICAL:
https://www.bbbsidaho.org/wis-virtual-event-calendar-download.html

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*About Women in STEM*

From a young age, girls are less likely to be encouraged to pursue a career in STEM related fields. We want to change that. We believe that matching girls with females who are currently working in STEM related careers will help those girls see that a similar career is a possibility for their own futures.

Big Brothers Big Sisters (BBBS) is seeking female volunteers in STEM based professions to be part of our new STEM Mentoring Program. At BBBS we believe in the power of mentoring for all children, no matter what their circumstances. In our STEM Mentoring Program, girls 6-14 (Little Sisters) are matched with volunteers (Big Sisters) who are in STEM based professions. As a Match they will spend time doing things they both enjoy, including STEM activities.

Thank you to our Women in STEM Sponsors

Micron Technology Inc., Idaho STEM Action Center, Power Engineers, and ON Semiconductor!

#womeninSTEM #defendersofpotential #thisisboise #WelcometotheFUTURE

 We are thrilled to announce our partnership with our dear friends at Mai Thai Restaurant and Bar as the beneficiaries of Mai Thai Gives Back, an evening where we will receive 20% of the proceeds for our mentoring program! Keep an eye on this space for more details and be sure to mark your calendars for February 18th!