Comcast Takes Mentoring “Beyond School Walls”
In honor of National Mentoring Month, we are highlighting a collaboration with Big Brothers Big Sisters of Utah and the Beyond School Walls Program. Comcast runs the nation’s largest workplace mentoring program in partnership with Big Brothers Big Sisters of America (BBBS).
The Utah program began in 2009 and followed the same group of students until they graduated from elementary school. For the 2015-16 school year, the program started with a new group of students from Heartland Elementary with the plan to see them through elementary school graduation as well.
The students, Littles, are bussed to Comcast during the lunch hour every other week where they spend an hour eating, playing, and working on academics with Comcast employees, Bigs, in a workplace setting. All Littles, are at-risk youth with challenges ranging from low-income single-parent families to homelessness to having incarcerated family members or run-away siblings.
When the current cohort of Littles started the program, most were nervous and uncomfortable with the professional setting at Comcast. Now, they are more confident, self-assured and show improvements in their social interactions with peers and adults.
“We know that because of all the hard work that Comcast has put into this program that these Littles will see life differently,” said Eowyn Cassavaugh, Site Based Team Lead, Big Brothers Big Sisters Utah. “The Comcast Bigs are aware that this program doesn’t remove these Littles from the hard circumstances of life, but provides them more tools in order to be able to still succeed despite those tougher circumstances. I am a firm believer of the impact mentoring can have on a child because I have seen it first hand in my own life and in the lives of the kids I work with. Comcast has helped hundreds of kids see the same impact mentoring has and I am so grateful to be a part of it.”
“This is my 3rd year as a mentor in the Beyond School Walls program, said Tisha Nester, Payment Services Supervisor, Comcast. “ My decision to become a mentor has led to a series of experiences, challenges, and rewards I could not possibly foresee, but all of them have changed my life for the better. It has been a wonderful experience connecting and getting to know my Little. I am grateful for the relationship we have developed and for the opportunity to share special moments and difficult times together. “
Will you join us in mentoring and supporting local youth? You can learn about volunteering opportunities with Big Brothers Big Sisters of Utah here.