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Feb 04
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Celebrating Black History Month 2022

By Resources

This year, Tito’s is honoring Black History Month by amplifying our support and donating $25,000 to Big Brothers Big Sisters Association of Florida. To learn more, visit lovetitos.com. 

 

Every February, people across the nation come together for events and activities to celebrate Black History Month. Now is an excellent opportunity to learn more about the history, contributions, and global impact of the African Diaspora with your Little. We hope these activity suggestions will inspire you and your Little to honor Black History Month and learn more together!

MOVIES TO WATCH:

  • Hidden Figures 
  • Black Panther
  • A Ballerina’s Tale
  • The Princess and the Frog

EASY RECIPES TO MAKE TOGETHER:

BOOKS TO READ:

  • Ages 5-12

Have You Thanked an Inventor Today? by Patrice McLaurin | Journey into the often forgotten contributions of African-American inventors, that contributed to the American landscape. It chronicles the school day of a little boy, highlighting different inventions that he uses throughout the day, all of which were invented by African-Americans. 

  • Ages 8-12

Black Heroes: a Black History Book for Kids: 51 Inspiring People from Ancient Africa to Modern-Day U. S. A. by Arlisha Norwood | You’re invited to meet ancient Egyptian rulers, brilliant scientists, legendary musicians, and civil rights activists–all in the same book! Black Heroes introduces you to 51 black leaders and role models from both history and modern times. 

  • For your teenaged Littles, click here to see a list of 74 Teen and Young Adult novels written by Black authors!
Feb 01
Love0

February Conversation Starters

By Resources

February Conversation Starters

February is Black History Month. Do some research and discuss the importance of acknowledging this month with your Little. We have shared some resources below:

https://www.history.com/topics/black-history/black-history-month and http://www.chiff.com/home_life/holiday/black-history-month.htm

February is also Dental Health Month. Talk to your Littles about the importance of dental health. Discuss the different kinds of teeth and what they are used for. How many teeth do humans have? How about dogs? What about tigers, birds, lizards, etc.

 

-February 2nd is Groundhog Day. Does your Little know who Puxataney Phil is? Research this day together.

-February 8th is Internet Safety Day. Ask your Little about what they do on the internet and how they stay safe. Watch an internet safety video like these: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yiKeLOKc1tw  or https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MjPpG2e71Ec

-February 8th is also National Kite Flying Day. Does anyone else think of Mary Poppins when they think of kites? How would you make your own kite? What materials could you use? Make your own kite together!

-February 10th is National Umbrella Day. Design your own umbrella. Would you use the same colors on each panel? Or maybe mix and match patterns?

-February 11th is International Day of Women and Girls in Science. Research some important women in science.

-February 14th is Valentine’s Day. What does this mean to you and your Little? What does love look like? Design your own Valentine’s Card. Have you heard about Palentine’s or Galentine’s Day?

-February 15th is also Susan B. Anthony Day. Research her together and discuss.

-February 17th is Random Acts of Kindness Day. What are some things that you can do to show your friends, teachers, parents, siblings kindness?

-February 20th is Love your Pet Day. Talk about your pets and what you do to keep them loved and healthy. What would your pet say about you? What makes your pet unique? If your Little doesn’t have a pet, would they like one?

-February 21st is Presidents Day. Why do we celebrate Presidents Day? Who were some influential presidents? Check out some interesting President Facts together. Would your Little want to be President? Why or why not? If they were President, what would they change?

-February 24th is National Tortilla Chip Day. Do you like tortilla chips and nachos? What is the best dip for tortilla chips or best things on nachos? Are tortilla chips a healthy snack? What are some snacks that are healthier choices?

 

Did you celebrate any of the days above? What was your Little’s favorite activity? Let us know on social media and be sure to “tag” or “@” Big Brothers Big Sisters of Tampa Bay. You can find us on Facebook (now called Meta), Instagram, LinkedIn, Twitter, and YouTube.

Jan 13
Love0

January Match of the Month

By Match Stories

Meet Little Brother Jacory and Big Sister Jaclyn, who have been matched in our Community Based Mentoring Program since 2017! Jacory’s aunt signed him up for the program as she wanted him to have a stable and consistent role model. This match has built such a strong bond and continues to flourish! Over the years, Little J and Big J have had important discussions and lessons about responsibilities. (Most notably, they worked on taking care of a fish together.) Big J and Little J practice showing perspective, exercising patience, and learning how to identify feelings. If you were to ask Jacory what his favorite moment with his Big is, he wouldn’t be able to choose just one memory.

Jaclyn continues to remind her Little of the importance of making goals, so together they will continue tracking their goal progress, practicing mindfulness, and performing well in school (both socially and academically.) They love to explore the outdoors, participate in yoga in the woods, and walk along Tampa Bay’s beautiful beaches.

Out of the 2,124 matches we served in 2021, approximately 121 were matches comprised of a Big Sister and a Little Brother. This number moves up to 125 matches if we include Big Sisters who are matched with males and youth who identify as non-binary, genderqueer, or gender fluid. While we love our caring Big Sisters who step up to volunteer as a mentor for a Little Brother, we will always welcome more Big Brothers! However, our agency will match boys 10 years of age and younger with Big Sisters if the parent/guardian is open to a cross-gender match.

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Tampa Bay is proud to serve more than 2,400 youth in 9 counties across the greater Tampa Bay area and beyond. Join us as a defender of potential by becoming a mentor, or what we call a Big. It just takes 4-8 hours a month —  it’s about the time you spend, not the money.  Click here to see the virtual orientation schedule.

Jan 09
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Our New Big Board Member is Committed to Increasing Community Literacy

By Match Stories

We are honored to welcome new Board Member (and longtime Big Sister) Abigail StClair! Abigail is an avid library advocate & enthusiast and has been matched with Kaylanie since 2017. Always a voracious reader, Abigail loved visiting the local library as a child and believes that libraries hold an essential place in every community, now more than ever. Thankfully, the breadth of services has expanded to match the unique needs of our ever-growing community. Here are her recommendations for making the best use of your library. You can grab a book and a seat, getting lost in a new page-turning adventure. Feeling a bit peckish? Take a cooking class! Borrow a book….or a science kit. Peruse the options listed by county:

Alachua County has some excellent and educational STEM kits that can be sent to your door.

The Coastal Region branch of Citrus County has a Nintendo Switch! MarioKart, anyone?

Hernando County has a wide array of music to discover, from underground artists to old favorites.

The Hillsborough County Public Library Cooperative offers GoPro checkout if your Little is an aspiring director.

In Marion County, you and your Little can create art from a stone.

Pasco County Libraries offers Makerspaces as a launching pad to explore, learn, design, and experiment.

Pinellas Public Library Cooperative shares museum passes to gain access to Dunedin History Museum, Florida Holocaust Museum, Imagine Museum, The James Museum of Western & Wildlife Art, Leepa Rattner Museum of Art, Museum and the Tampa Bay History Center, and others.

Polk County Library Cooperative offers a great selection of e-reading options for kids.

Sumter County has a childrens’ catalog that efficiently offers book selections based on topic.

Big Brothers Big Brothers Big Sisters of Tampa Bay is proud to serve more than 2,400 youth in 9 counties across the greater Tampa Bay area and beyond. Join us as a defender of potential by becoming a mentor, or Big. It just takes 4-8 hours a month — consistency is key.  Click here to see the virtual orientation schedule.

Jan 03
Love0

January Conversation Starters

By Resources

Do you need some ideas for things to talk to your Little about? Check out our January Conversation Starters to help you and your Little learn about new topics and better connect with one another. Plus, we have gathered some free and low-cost activities to participate in. 

Four Ways to Make Stronger Connections with Littles, Backed by Research (Adapted from article by Jean Rhodes)

Make sure to mess up – People rarely show their blunders on Facebook but they certainly post pictures of vacations and updates about achievements. Doing things to represent your life as perfectly as possible may be less beneficial in a mentoring relationship. Research shows that people who inspire the most trust are those who exhibit two important traits: warmth and competence. It may seem counter-intuitive but it’s ok to mess up, show your mistakes, and how you learned, which demonstrates competence. In a study, researchers had people evaluate three candidates. One had poor scores, the other had almost perfect scores, and the third had high scores as well but during the interview spilled coffee all over their clothes. The fumbler was thought of more highly as they appeared more approachable and human. Sometimes sharing a laugh with your Little at your own expense is a great way to show an authentic and truthful quality of yourself to build your relationship.

The apology that shows you care – A Harvard researcher had an assistant approach people at a train station on a rainy day. Half the time they asked people, “May I borrow your phone? I need to make an important call.” Only 9% of those people agreed to help. But the other times the assistant said, “I’m sorry about the rain! May I borrow your phone? I need to make an important call.” They apologized for the rain . . . something they did not cause and had no control over but 47% of people helped them out. That’s a 400% increase. Similar results were achieved in several different situations. The apology conveyed care and concern, it boosted perceptions of warmth and increased trust. Little things that show you care matter — even if they seem silly.

Be empathetic – Mimicry can help you increase perspective-taking which research backs up. Sitting like they do, folding your hands like they do, etc. Mimicry facilitates perspective-taking: It helps us truly understand what another person is experiencing. Try a little bit of subtle mimicry next time you are with your Little to see what happens.

Ask for advice – Using perspective-taking strategies can certainly be helpful. Ask another person for advice to help them be open to understanding your perspective. When we ask others for advice, they put themselves in our shoes and look at the world from our vantage point. Asking for advice also signals respect and asking advice from your Little will send a message that you value and acknowledge their opinions and help them build self-confidence.

 

No cost and low cost activities: 

Dunedin Art Festival— Jan. 8th-9th Dunedin is one of the oldest towns on the west coast of Florida, just a short drive from Tampa and home to the Downtown Dunedin Art Festival. The Downtown Dunedin Art Festival runs down Main Street and showcases award-winning fine artists. Meet the artists and explore an array of mediums including sculpture, photography, glass, paintings, ceramics, jewelry, mixed media and more! Click here for more details.

36th Annual Plant City Dr. MLK Cultural Arts Festival — Jan. 7—17th MLK Parade 1:00 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. Battle of the Bands (Drumline) 2:30 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. I Impact PC Make Some Noise 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. Click here for more details.

Treasure island kite festival—Jan. 15th & 16th Come be amazed by talented kite flyers from all over the U.S. on Treasure Island Beach. Representatives from Revolution Kites and Prism Kites will be giving flying demonstrations and allowing people a chance to learn how to fly. The free event runs from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. both days behind the Thunderbird Beach Resort

 

Find more activities in our Monthly Match Newsletter!

Jan 01
Love0

Be a Role Model this National Mentoring Month

By In The News

Did you know that January is National Mentoring Month? National Mentoring Month focuses national attention on the need for mentors and how each of us can work together to ensure positive outcomes for our young people, such as educational success, avoidance of risky behaviors, higher aspirations, greater confidence, and better relationships.

To celebrate the importance of mentoring this January, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Tampa Bay is highlighting our Big & Little matches to show how being a friend and role model to a child can transform their life. With more than 900 youth across our nine counties waiting to be matched with a Big, our need for positive adults to step up and volunteer is greater than ever before. BBBS Tampa Bay asks people in Hillsborough, Pinellas, Polk, Pasco, Citrus, Hernando, Sumter, Maron, and Alachua counties to defend the potential of our youth through one-to-one mentoring relationships and consider being a consistent and trusted friend to a kid.

Here’s how you can get involved this National Mentoring Month:

  • Get out there and make a difference by becoming a volunteer mentor. The first step is to attend a Virtual Big Orientation & Training to learn more about our programs and how you can become a volunteer. View the full schedule of Big Orientation & Trainings here.
  • Follow Big Brothers Big Sisters of Tampa Bay on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and Twitter and use our social media toolkit to spread the word about our need for mentors!
  • Throughout the month, we encourage everyone to tag a friend who would be a great Big using the hashtag #BBBSMentoringMonth and tell them to visit bbbstampabay.org/be-a-big to learn more.
Dec 16
Love0

3 Ways To Give After #GivingTuesday

By Fundraising Events, In The News

You can support our one-to-one mentoring programs while shopping for Christmas and holiday gifts this year. We are proud to continue our partnerships with Nordstrom Rack & AmazonSmile, and excited to announce a new partnership with eSmart recycling. Here are three ways you can give back to your community and donate to a local charity.

Nordstrom Rack

Nordstrom Rack will donate 70% of their funds earned until December 31 to the BBBS agency in that store’s zip code. As a new option this year, online customers will also have the option to make a donation on the website. (Does not apply to mobile app purchases. Please use your web browser [Google Chrome or other] to make your purchases or head to your local Nordstrom Rack.)

AmazonSmile

Simply shop at smile.amazon.com or with AmazonSmile on in the Amazon Shopping app to give back on (most) of your everyday purchases. Choose Big Brothers Big Sisters of Tampa Bay as your charity of choice and a portion from each purchase made is donated to us. When you shop at smile.amazon.com we receive 0.5% of eligible purchases at no extra cost to you! You can also browse our Amazon Charity Wishlist to donate an item and have it delivered directly to Big Brothers Big Sisters of Tampa Bay via Amazon.

eSmart Recycling

Planning on replacing your laptop, television, or iPad this holiday shopping season? Don’t toss your old tech — donate it to eSmart Recycling and help our organization keep kids connected with their mentors. When you contact them to schedule a pickup, be sure to mention it is on behalf of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Tampa Bay. As one of our newest partners, eSmart Recycling has already donated 15 laptops to our mobile computer lab. Now, our Littles will be able to chat with their Bigs during lunch hours while at school.

Thank you in advance for believing in Big Brothers Big Sisters of Tampa Bay this holiday season and throughout the year. It truly takes a village to make impactful and lasting changes in our communities.

Dec 13
Love0

December Match of the Month

By Match Stories

Meet one of our newest matches, Big Sister Nora and Little Sister Tiffany. They are now Matched thanks to our new School-to-Work partnership with the Pinellas County Government.

You’re probably wondering why Tiffany is holding a pair of bundled-up eggs in this photo. As part of a school assignment, Tiffany had to care for her “twins” and take them everywhere, including to work at the courthouse. However, Nora is actually a twin in real life. We think these “twins” ended up being paired together rather serendipitously!

Thank you to Nora and all of our new Bigs at the offices of the Clerk of the Circuit & Comptroller and the Pinellas County Property Appraiser. Big Brothers Big Sisters of Tampa Bay is honored to launch this School-to-Work program in Clearwater with the hopes of setting up mentoring relationships across the county of Pinellas and beyond.

Do you want to provide support, share power, and expand possibilities for a child in your community? Does your employer offer paid volunteer time? Find out how to state your case to become a mentor, or Big, with Big Brothers Big Sisters of Tampa Bay? Attend a Virtual Big Orientation & Training session to get started. 

Dec 03
Love0

December Conversation Starters

By Resources

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Tampa Bay has provided a variety of free to low-cost activities for the holidays that you and your Little to enjoy. Read more:

December 7th is Write a Letter Day: Who might be someone that would love to get a letter from you? A relative, teacher, Santa??

December 10th is Nobel Prize Day: Research what the Nobel Prize is and some previous winners. How did those winners change history?

December 16th is National Chocolate Covered Anything Day: What are your favorite chocolate-covered foods? Can you think of anything wacky to cover chocolate in that you haven’t tried?

December 25th is Christmas Day: Share your Christmas traditions. If you don’t celebrate Christmas, do you celebrate another holiday this time of year?

December 28th is National Playing Card Day: What card games do you know? What card games can you teach your Big/Little?

December 31st is New Years’ Eve: Talk about your New Years’ Eve traditions and how you ring in the New Year. Research different calendar systems used around the globe.

 

Free activities and things to do. 

Visit the Manatee Viewing Center: The Manatee Viewing Center’s mission is to educate the public about the Florida manatee and its habitat. The center is a state and federally designated manatee sanctuary. During the center’s open season, Nov. 1 through April 15, displays, interactive exhibits and more teach visitors of all ages about the life cycle of the manatee and the challenges they face. FREE Admission. 6990 Dickman Rd. Apollo Beach, FL 33572

St. Petersburg Holiday of the Arts—Dec. 11-12th: This art festival transforms Williams Park into an outdoor gallery of original and handmade art created by extraordinary artists in painting, sculpture, jewelry, glass, ceramics, fiber and wearable art, photography, digital art, mixed-media, metalwork, woodworking, and more. FREE Admission. 350 2nd Avenue North, St. Petersburg, FL. Click here for more details.

The North Pole Experience, Saturday, December 11: Times are available from 8:30am -3:00pm. Estimated event time is 1 hour. Santa will be there on his sleigh and each child 11 years old or younger will receive a gift. Everyone can participate in the amazing Christmas fun of traveling through the North Pole!  This is a walk-through event this year with stations to stop at. Seating will be available throughout the experience. Strollers and wheelchairs are more than welcome. There is a limited number of ticket reservations.  Everyone attending must reserve a free ticket (This includes all adults).  When you register you will receive in your email a ticket for each attendee.  YOU MUST BRING THE TICKET with you on the day of the event. Kirk Church, 2686 Bayshore Blvd., Dunedin, FL. Click here for more details.

Jingle Bell Bazaar at Ybor 2021— Dec. 12th: The Largest Annual Holiday Festival in Ybor City is Back! Come enjoy a day of live music, shopping, food trucks, and pics with Santa Claus. 1800 E.8th Ave, Tampa, FL 33605. Click here for more details.

Christmas is Near— Dec. 23rd: For 9 years Christmas Is Near has been the Premier Christmas Event for the whole family. FREE Admission. 303 Lemon St, Plant City, FL 33563

5-7:15 pm: Kid/Youth Zones and Photo Opportunities
5-7:30 pm: Pre-Show on the Main Stage with Kenzie Wheeler and Rekindled Bluegrass
7:30 pm: Christmas Concert and Candlelight Service

Click here for more details.

 

Low-cost arts and crafts activities. 

-Make Holiday Cards: Get some art & craft supplies and make homemade holiday cards with your Little to give to family members, teachers, and friends.

-Decorate a Christmas Tree: Invite your Little to accompany you and pick out a tree. Decorate it together and talk about holiday traditions carried down from your families.

-Create a Gingerbread House: Pick up a gingerbread house kit so that you and your Little can build and decorate it together!

 

Dec 01
Love0

International Human Rights Month

By Resources, Uncategorized

In addition to many holidays, the month of December is also a time to observe Universal Human Rights Month. This month is a reminder that the United Nations General Assembly codified the basic human rights of every person. It is also a time to reflect upon the rights that we do have and what these freedoms mean to us. Eleanor Roosevelt, former First Lady of America, was an influential figure involved in creating the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.  She asks, “Where, after all, do universal human rights begin? In small places, close to home — so close and so small that they cannot be seen on any maps of the world. Unless these rights have meaning there, they have little meaning anywhere. Without concerted citizen action to uphold them close to home, we shall look in vain for progress in the larger world.”

Here are some excellent book recommendations that you and your Little can read together to learn more about the importance of Human Rights.

  • We Are All Born Free by the Amnesty International
  • I Have the Right to Be a Child by Alain Serres
  • A Life Like Mine by DK

This is also a great opportunity to give back to your community through volunteering for a local nonprofit! Below are some organizations that are always accepting volunteers of all ages:

The Declaration of Human Rights was created to be a ‘common standard of achievement for all peoples and all nations’. This document has been translated into over 500 languages and is the most downloaded document in the world. While many of us get caught up in the hustle and bustle of the many December holidays we celebrate, it’s also the perfect time to reflect on our rights and think of how we can make a more equitable world for everyone.

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