Little Big Chats: The Big Brothers Big Sisters of Metro Milwaukee Podcast Big Brothers Big Sisters of Metro Milwaukee

When Betsy bought her first house a few years ago, she decided it would be a practical adventure to do some of the renovations herself.
And, fortunately, she had a perfect carpenter's assistant waiting at the ready in her little sister Aaliyah.
Together, they've swung hammers, worked miter saws and built noodle boards.
And in the course of learning new skills and expanding their horizons, they've built a remarkable friendship as well.

In order to make sure that key perspectives are represented in its decision making, the Big Brothers Big Sisters of Metro Milwaukee Board of Directors appoints three "Voices of the Mission" to its membership.
These leaders represent the Littles, the Bigs and the parents of Littles, and help the board understand how their policy-making impacts the BBBS mission on a granular level.
So in this episode, we meet the current "Voices of the Mission:" Christiana, a former Little in the program; Chloe, a current Big; and Taheréh, a parent of a Little.
They'll discuss what they hope to be able to contribute to the organization, what they've learned about mentoring, and what are some of the questions they've always wanted to ask other stakeholders within the BBBS ecosystem.

Years ago, when they matched with their Little Brother DayDay, Charles and Sarah were taken aback by how shy he was.
Now a bombastic high schooler, it suffices to say that DayDay has really come out of his shell.
But with the love and support of mentors like Charles and Sarah, and dozens of horizon-expanding experiences along the way, it's no surprise that this young man has found his voice.
And this trio is now celebrating their selection as BBBS of Metro Milwaukee's Couples Match of the Year.

Starting high school after the Covid pandemic was enough to make Briya cry.
For a self-proclaimed introvert, all the new people and situations just seemed so overwhelming.
But when she matched with Maddie through Big Brothers Big Sisters of Metro Milwaukee's Mentor 2.0 program, that all began to change.
In her big sister, Briya found a new source of confidence and inspiration. She chanced upon an eager compatriot for sharing her unique cultural food heritage. She discovered a new reason to stand up just a little bit straighter.
And it turns out, when you're as tall as these two are, standing up straighter can create a BIG shift in perspective!

Fellas, we've gotta have a hard talk.
Because, frankly, not enough men are stepping up to the plate to volunteer as mentors with Big Brother Big Sisters.
And at BBBS of Metro Milwaukee, there are hundreds of young men just sitting on the waiting list.
Maybe you're scared you don't have what it takes, maybe you're afraid of the time commitment, maybe you just don't think you can make a difference.
But in this episode, we're going to introduce you to Otis, JT, Glen and Joseph: four Big Brothers who are proving that one man can make a difference in the world.
They'll talk about the mentoring myths that keep so many guys from volunteering, and share their own proudest moments as Big Brothers.

If you call Little Sister Tahlia a multi-sport athlete, she WILL correct you.
She's also an artist, and an entrepreneur, and a high honor roll student, and a member of various clubs and student orgs.
And, when she joined BBBS of Metro Milwaukee's Mentor 2.0 program, she hoped she was getting another life-shaping experience.
She was not disappointed.
As a match with her Big Sister Lauren, these two fast friends have broadened their horizons together, and turned their attention to preparing for Tahlia's next big adventure—college.