Mentor for good.

Mentoring helps strengthen our communities today in order to make them even stronger tomorrow.

In June 2020, State Farm began working with Leap Year. The Atlanta-based nonprofit is dedicated to improving literacy and college enrollment in metro-Atlanta. A mentorship program is part of that relationship.

It connects members of our Young Business Professionals (YBP) employee resource group with area youth. They help with everything from improving test scores, giving career advice and providing valuable insight. The sessions help the teens further their education and determine their future goals.

“It’s fulfilling to know that I get the opportunity to be a positive impact on someone else's life,” said YBP mentor Glenn Gaston.

The relationships are a two-way street.

“If you're interested in being a mentor, whether it's with Leap Year or in your community in whatever way, do it,” said Brandie Bryant, YBP mentor.

“Everyone has something they can offer and instill into someone else, and you learn that it makes you a better person too.”

Mentoring is a great way to extend the good neighbor spirit all year long. Our Good Neighbor Day Toolkit suggests other ways you can share your time, talents and treasure to make a difference and be a part of 100 for Good.

Saying yes to a family match through their local Big Brothers Big Sisters program, Al and Melanie turned caring into doing and changed many lives. In big ways.

And even half a decade later the relationship is going strong. Jacob comes over to their house on a Saturday or Sunday nearly every weekend. Now 12, Jacob “is a pretty awesome young man — polite, thankful, and never asking for anything. He blends in well with our family,” according to Al.

During Jacob’s visits, they do a variety of activities. Now that he’s in seventh grade, helping him with schoolwork is a focus area.

Al and Melanie have been helping Jacob develop more comprehensive thinking skills. “In the beginning,” Melanie says, “I sat down and read each question with him. It wasn’t that Jacob didn’t know the answer, but more that he didn’t know how to structure the answer.”

And homework time has become a family affair. Al and Melanie’s two older daughters, Izzy and Allie, help Jacob with homework too. “It’s good for the girls to teach someone,” says Al. “Which is when you learn how well you know something.” Aside from homework, they all spend time reading each weekend.

The Schellings aren’t only in this for the near term. They expect to see Jacob graduate from high school and are in it for the long haul. As contacts for Jacob’s teachers, Al and Melanie are able to track his academic and social progress.

But it’s not all about homework. Al and Melanie encouraged Jacob to get involved in a youth basketball program, which adds balance. Jacob is included in family vacations and even family pictures. Al and Melanie’s three daughters love him like a brother.

Recently, the Schellings were planning a movie outing. Their 11-year-old daughter’s first question was, “Is Jacob coming too?”. She didn’t want to go with her parents, but if her ‘brother’ was going, she would too.

Mentoring relationships take on many forms, and this relationship benefits everyone involved. In addition to Jacob’s adoptive mom, the family match program introduced Jacob to other adult role models who care about him and are committed to his success. And Al and Melanie indicate an unbelievable change in their lives.

Melanie says, “Our relationship with Jacob has helped us open up more to what kids want and need.” Al adds, “Jacob has never asked us for anything; he just wants to hang out.

“Helping kids has become quite normal for us. We are quite blessed to be able to effectively operate our agencies while taking time out to make a difference.”

“It’s amazing that we can have a successful business while following our passion,” Melanie comments. “We want others to get involved like we are. The commitment can be as little as 10 hours per month, but can have a monumental impact on a kid’s life.”

To find mentoring opportunities in your area, visit NeighborhoodofGood.com^® and search under local ‘Children & Youth Education’.

Other ways to get involved mentoring youth:

• Tutor a student
• Participate in class/group programs (e.g. Junior Achievement, coach an after school activity)
• Serve as a foster parent
• Become a Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) to advocate in court for underserved children

Meet Pam Sandlin, San’s soon-to-be older and wiser friend. “I didn’t know what to expect,” Pam smiled. “Was I nervous? Yes.    But I couldn’t wait to meet her.”

Little did Pam or San know, their after school introduction would be the start of an incredible story…

…one that began after each decided to join Big Brothers Big Sisters of Middle Tennessee.

Flashback to 2009:

“The organization did a great job matching us,” said Pam. “Early in the relationship, we discovered we had lots in common. We’re both taller than average, love basketball, we’re close to our grandmothers, and love our families.” 

Pam learned about Big Brothers Big Sisters through her employer, State Farm.

“I was an empty nester looking for a meaningful way to give back to my community. When State Farm shared the opportunity to get involved with Big Brothers Big Sisters (BBBS), it was perfect. I love children and thought, ‘this is my chance to be a Big Sister!’”

During their first encounter at San’s elementary school, the pair instantly clicked. Soon, they were meeting every week to laugh, joke, share stories and dreams. “I always looked forward to seeing Pam because I knew we’d have a great time,” said San. “We’d go to the movies, eat at restaurants, watch basketball games – and we even went whitewater rafting! She makes life a happy adventure.”

A Friendship in Full Bloom

San says Pam saw her strengths and encouraged her to be the best person she could be. “My favorite memory is a special camping trip we took together. The theme of the weekend was, Face your Fears. I have a fear of heights. But Pam made sure I didn’t miss out on the fun. With her encouragement, I finished an obstacle course, climbed mountains, walked a tight rope and even zip-lined! Pam is my rock.”

But the Big Sister encouragement didn’t stop there.

“In addition to our fun, I often talked to San about her future,” said Pam. “Wherever we’d go, we’d strike up conversations about the careers of people we came in contact with. I reminded her how important a high school diploma is - and we talked about college a lot.”

A New Journey

As the years passed, Pam watched San grow from an introverted fourth-grader into a confident, strong young woman. Elementary school came and went, then junior high, then the final years of high school arrived.

“Pam toured colleges with my mother and me,” said San. “My favorite journey was our three-day trip to Louisiana State University. It was the longest amount of time we’d spent together and we grew even closer.” 

In May of 2017, San graduated high school. Pam was there to celebrate her success. “Oh my goodness, I’m so proud of her,” said Pam. “She’s such a mature young lady and a leader among her peers. She told me about times when things got tough in school, yet she was the source of comfort for other students. They considered her honest and trustworthy.”

In the fall of 2017 San began her freshman year at Volunteer State Community College, with plans to pursue a career in psychology. “I always wanted to help people the way Pam has helped me,” San explained. “In sixth grade I received high marks on a career test and since then have always wanted to be a doctor, nurse or psychologist.”

While Pam and San’s formal mentoring ended when San graduated high school, their relationship has not stopped. “I’ve enjoyed watching her grow, excel and flourish,” said Pam. "She’s really a strong young woman and I want to continue helping her in any way I can. I’m so grateful to have Pam in my life. She’s encouraged me in whatever I wanted to do and has always been there for me.”

More than friends…

“After almost a decade of friendship, we’re sisters at heart,” smiled San. “We plan to remain in each other’s lives forever,” said Pam.

To learn more about Big Brothers Big Sisters, or to become a volunteer, click here.

By the time Javon Gay was in 6th grade, he was his baby sister’s caretaker. While their mom worked, Javon fixed his sister’s breakfast, combed her hair, and got her to school on time. He also found an after-school job – learning how to survive in a rough neighborhood.

By 18 he had been in juvenile detention and dropped out of school. By 21, he was working a low-wage job and felt stuck.

Then Javon got arrested for driving on a suspended license. At first, it was just another thread in his long-running string of bad luck and bad choices, until he saw an Urban League of Greater Atlanta’s (ULGA) Urban Youth Empowerment Program (UYEP) poster.

Taking Initiative

“I had never heard of the League a day in my life. But that poster made me want to get involved, to make something of myself. I went in the very next day,” Javon recalled.

Javon was coached first to set his sights on the most important step to achieving his goals: passing the GED exam. In November 2014, Javon earned his GED, passing the test on his first attempt.

For Javon, this outreach is all a part of his larger plan to care for youth. “I also want to give back and to thank people who are helping me reach my highest potential,” he says.

In June 2015, Javon was honored with three other young men for their achievements at the Urban League of Greater Atlanta’s annual Spirit of the League awards ceremony.

When accepting the honor, Javon said, “When I came to the Urban League, I had no direction. But because of the support and guidance they provided me, I have my GED and enrolled at Atlanta Metropolitan College to study to become a dentist.”

On a better path

UYEP is much more than a training program. It takes a holistic approach to educationally and professionally develop young men and women, ages 18-24 who either did not complete high school or have had a brush with the law.

The program also offers daily access to caring, compassionate and supportive adult case managers – known to the youth in the program as “Empowerment Advocates” and “Peer Advocates” who help youth address and overcome challenges along the way so they can stay on course to succeed.

“The participants come to us with limited skills to compete in the marketplace. We help them connect with their talents, passion and purpose in the form of a career pathway, secure the education and training they need to embark on the career, secure employment and gain the valuable life skills that they need to succeed,” said Tracey Mosley, program director of the ULGA Empowerment Center.

Since 2013, UYEP has helped 115 young people enter education and jobs programs that are putting them on the path to economic stability and positive contribution to their communities.

A Helping Hand

Through the contribution of many community members, including State Farm employees, ULGA has come a long way toward empowering our youth and stabilizing communities that have been hit hard by crime and economic downturns.

“They represent so much talent and untapped potential. There are more than 90,000 of what we term as ‘at-opportunity’ youth in our region who need what UYEP has to offer,” shared State Farm Agent Cedric Taylor, a supporter and volunteer. “When we support youth and young adults to succeed, we not only reach their generation, we also support the next generation of parents and their children to live quality lives and contribute to our communities.”

If you asked Kevin Watkins one word he would use to describe himself five years ago, he would say “shy”.

When Kevin met his “Big Brother”, State Farm Auto Estimatics Inspector, Tom Headley, he was 14 years old. The then 8th grader, was a self-described tall, skinny kid…and very shy.

In 2009, a State Farm office in Newark, OH launched “State Farm Diplomats” in partnership with Big Brothers/Big Sisters of Licking and Perry Counties. Employees became “Big Brothers” to middle-school aged children, maintaining the relationship until the “Little” graduated from high school.

Tom was quick to volunteer. Fast forward five years, and Kevin recently graduated high school and completed a certificate in Firefighting/Emergency Medical Services!

First Impressions and Life Lessons

At first, Kevin and Tom, would walk around town or go out to eat. Over time, Tom introduced Kevin to different environments. Kevin recalls going to the Amish country and being introduced to the “motorcycle community.”

When Kevin expressed an interest in purchasing a bicycle that was well out of his price range, Tom used the opportunity to help Kevin research options. He then put Kevin to work, cutting a lot of grass, to pay for his bike. Tom paid for the bike, but Kevin worked to pay for it.

As Kevin puts it, “Two of Tom’s favorite saying are ‘Listen to me boy when I’m a talkin’ to ya” and ‘ya gotta work for what ya get’.”

Kevin is no stranger to hard work. Throughout high school, he worked on a farm, caring for more than 200 dairy cattle. Kevin also earned his helicopter landing license, he is a Jr. Firefighter with the Newton Township Fire Department), and he is certified in CPR and First Aid.

Kevin now works at Bayer in the Fabrication and Welding area. He is currently working to earn his Welding Certification. All those years of sanding doors, cutting grass and milking cows have led to a hands-on career, and as Kevin says, “give me something to put my hands on and I’ll do it.”

A Match Made In…Newark

Tom and his wife, Tina, fully embrace the Big Brothers/Big Sisters program, even though things didn’t always go according to plan. As Kevin got older, his work schedule got busier. It became more and more challenging to connect with his Big Brother.

According to Tara Shannon, Match Support Specialist with Big Brother/ Big Sister, “we were going to close the match.” Tom dug in his heels and refused to let this happen, insisting they keep the match open.

It’s A Family Affair

Tom and Tina made the Big Brother/Little Brother experience a family affair. When the couple couldn’t attend Kevin’s high school graduation party, Tina’s parents went instead..

Without Big Brothers/Big Sisters, Kevin says his life would have taken a different course.

“I would have hung with a different crowd, and probably wouldn’t have graduated,” Kevin shared.

He could very easily have made the decision to drop out of school to work, but Tom and Tina wouldn’t let that happen. With their encouragement, Kevin stayed in school.

Tom told Kevin, “You have to stay in school and graduate if you ever want to make anything of your life.”

Paying It Forward

Even though the formal aspect of Tom and Kevin’s match has ended, their relationship continues. Following in Tom’s footsteps, Kevin is now a Big Brother to a six-year-old named Jackson.

Remaining involved with the Big Brothers/Big Sisters program, Tom and Tina matched with Jackson’s younger brother Gabe. A third brother, nine-year-old Ayden, also has a Big Brother, and when his big can’t make it to events and activities, Tina steps in.

Most recently, this lively group participated in the Annual Miniature Indoor Golf Open challenge which raises money for the local Red Cross disaster relief efforts. The boys and their “Bigs” spent the afternoon putting around the course.

What began six years ago as a way to encourage a young man to stay in school and graduate has grown into something that will change the life of not one, but four young people forever.