Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Indiana Needs Mentors of Color

One of the area’s largest youth organizations is in need of volunteers to serve as role models.

Darcy Palmer-Schultz is CEO of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Indiana. She said while the number of available volunteers to guide pre-teens and young adults has declined due to the pandemic, the organization also lacks mentors of color for little brothers and little sisters who want someone who looks like them:

“I think part of it too, is just making sure that we as an organization are doing enough to make sure that people and especially people of color, feel invited and welcome and part of our organization,” Palmer-Schultz said.

She said there is value in having diverse volunteers because the youth and their parents approach the organization for different reasons. Kids ages 8 to 18 are welcome to join the program. Mentors are asked to spend on average 4-6 hours per month with their mentee.