In a BIG way
In a BIG way
It really is a big deal.
Oh sure, it pretty much seems like all fun and games, what with the trips to the park, the rollerblade sessions, video game competitions and maybe a movie or two.
Yet in those one-on-one excursions and activities, serious and everlasting life changes are taking place — simply by “just being there, being present,” according to officials of the Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central California organization.
“There really isn’t a lot to the Big Brother Big Sister concept — it’s just being there, being present that works,” said Gerardo Márquez, Kern County program manager of the mentoring program. “And that’s why it doesn’t matter what a person does for a living to be involved with our program — we’ve had Big Brothers and Big Sisters who are teachers, college students, construction workers, parents and non-parents — the common denominator is compassion for these kids.”
With that compassion comes amazing results — despite the daunting statistics that children, especially of Hispanic and African American heritage, face here in the Central Valley, including such issues as poverty, single parent households, an incarcerated parent and a lack of higher education.
On the flip side are the positive effects that positive forces and positive people — i.e. Big Brothers and Big Sisters volunteers — have on their Little Brothers and Little Sisters.
A recent national study for the Big Brothers and Big Sisters program examined the impact of mentoring youth on a regular basis and found:
• 52 percent are less likely to skip school.
• 46 percent are less likely to use illegal drugs.
• 27 percent are less likely to use alcohol.
Bosom buddies
Once a week, the clock at 9-year-old Anthony Martinez’s home is very closely watched. And the patience of a fourth-grader who knows firsthand the benefits of having a Big Brother is tested.
“He’s always happier, but anxious, wondering, ‘When’s he coming? What are we going to do together this time?’” said Anthony’s mother, Monique Medina. “He’s just waiting on that clock.”
The anticipation of another good time spent together is not a one-way street.
Anthony’s “Big” (the organization refers to the adult volunteers as “Bigs” and the children are “Littles”) is Victor Estrada, 27, a chemical analyst at BC Laboratories in Bakersfield.
The pair were matched by the Kern County branch of the Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Valley group in January. The program operated here six years ago, but had to close due to lack of funding, according to Márquez.
However, a local branch was made possible again and in October, opened its doors on 18th Street in downtown Bakersfield. The headquarter offices are in Fresno.
From Day One, Anthony and Victor clicked.
“He definitely wasn’t shy,” Victor said of that first meeting with his “Little.”
Prior to their match — which, according to Márquez, is the first Latino match within the local branch of the program — Anthony, his mother and Victor were all required to complete a program orientation and an interview/home visit. Additionally, Victor underwent two extensive background checks and a volunteer training class. The entire process from sign-up to match-up takes six to eight weeks.
Now that they’re officially a Big-Little pair, Anthony and Victor enjoy spending quality time with each other — mostly good ol’ playtime.
“Actually, since I started meeting with Anthony, I’m doing a lot of fun things that normally I wouldn’t be doing right now in my life,” said Victor, who finds it best not to have a set plan for his outings with his Little. “It’s like this gives me the chance to re-live my childhood.”
By all accounts, this new relationship in Anthony’s life is truly making a difference: Anthony just received the best school behavior report he’s ever had, according to his mother.
For Anthony, if it’s cool, it’s Victor.
“He’s got a really nice car — I think it’s baby blue-ish — we’ll just cruise around until we find something we want to do,” said this Little, a fourth-grader at Thorner Elementary, who aspires to be an artist one day. “Victor’s just really, really nice to me — all the time.”
For Monique, Anthony’s mother, if it’s a positive role model, it’s Victor.
“I wanted my son, my one and only son, to see other lifestyles, to see a successful person and that’s what Victor shows him — it makes Anthony want to be like Victor,” said Monique, her voice breaking up with emotion. “I thank him (Victor) all the time ... but somehow ‘thanks’ doesn’t seem like the right word.
“For what he does for Anthony, ‘thanks’ just doesn’t seem like enough, but that’s what I am — thankful.”
TO GET INVOLVED
• Currently, 16 Kern County children are awaiting a Big Brother or Big
Sister match: 12 boys and 4 girls. There are seven matches (all boys)
already made.
• To volunteer, visit: www.bigs.org or call toll-free 877-343-7812.
• E-mail Gerardo Márquez at: gmarquez@bigs.org
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