ST. LOUIS — There’s special effort to recruit Black mentors to volunteer for Big Brothers, Big Sisters. It's called Black 365. The campaign is to match more children with mentors who look like them. Right now, there's a huge demand.
If you've watched the local news lately, you've seen the headlines of violence involving youth. A local group that's served our community for decades continues the work to put young people on the right track.
"Providing our youth to have an outlet with somebody that they can just talk to,” said Robert Hughes with Big Brothers Big Sisters of Eastern Missouri.
The group is working to recruit 300 Black mentors in 65 days.
"So 365. That's the play on the numbers,” he explained. "We have a waiting list of approximately 80% African American children that are looking for representation of themselves."
Constance Johnson is a big sister to 12-year-old Brihanna.
"She'll be a teenager soon,” Johnson said with pride.
They've had their relationship for 5 years.
"I want to know what's going on in school. I want to know how she's hanging out with her friends. What's the newest movies she's thinking about,” she explained.
Johnson believes more youth can benefit from relationships like this.
"They're not all bad apples. Sometimes they just need exposure…. It's more than just our neighborhood. We get a chance to experience other things and try new things that she's never done before," she said.
Exposure opening doors to excel.
"On any given day, without this campaign, when you have people sign up to be a mentor, do you have a large number of Black people volunteering?” 5 On Your Side asked Hughes.
“No we do not. That's why this is so important.,” he replied.
"With that said, you won’t turn any volunteer away?” 5 On Your Side asked.
“Never, never,” he answered with assurance.
The program asks volunteers to commit for one year, providing four hours of quality time with a mentee per month.
There will be a free Black 365 kick-off day party and registration drive on April 6 from 1-4 p.m. at 519 North Grand Blvd. in St. Louis. You can find more information here.