Connie Askin
Updated: 6 hours ago
Opinion
Viewpoint: Unlocking the power of mentorship
By Connie Askin
If there’s one thing clear about Worcester, it’s this: The Woo is a nonprofit town.
Five years ago, the COVID-19 pandemic dealt a major blow to nonprofits, particularly those serving children and young adults. At Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Mass and Metrowest, the number of active matches plummeted to approximately 300 pairs of Bigs and Littles. It was a devastating blow that felt nearly impossible to recover from.
Since then, we have worked tirelessly to rebuild Big Brothers Big Sisters to its former strength. Along with a refreshed strategic plan, we have sought to live our mission through programs strengthening mentoring and youth development, while evolving with the needs of our region.
This community includes partnerships with Worcester’s public schools and private colleges. We collaborate with The CASA Project, Nativity School and Girls Inc. For me, some of the most meaningful connections are made through various networks, like Investing in Girls Alliance, the USE Committee, and Mass Family Council. In my experience, this is not how most cities operate. We are fortunate to have such a high level of collaboration, as well as a strong United Way, community foundation, and chamber of commerce.
Thanks to these friendships, Big Brothers Big Sisters is steadily climbing back from the pandemic-induced downturn. As of May 15, we reached our school-year goal of 650 children and young adults served, and we are just getting started.
This progress has not gone unnoticed. We were honored to be named the Worcester Regional Chamber of Commerce’s Nonprofit of the Year. The staff and board are incredibly grateful to be recognized with this award. We also see it as recognition of everyone who helped us get here, our community partners, Bigs and Littles, alumni, sponsors, and individual donors who amplify our work by sharing our stories online, attending our events, and donating to our cause.
This award is more than a milestone. It is a celebration of Worcester’s commitment to its youth and to the power of mentorship. It is a sign our city’s nonprofit heart is stronger than ever.
We are proud of how far we have come, and more excited than ever for what comes next.
Connie Askin is the CEO of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Mass & MetroWest.
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