Goodwill Community Partner Feature: Big Brothers Big Sisters Lincoln
By Alana Sesow
At Goodwill, we believe in the power of community.
Not only does Goodwill create and fund life-changing employment services, like those offered for free at our Job Connection Center, but we also provide funding to peer agencies that help local job seekers overcome traditional barriers to employment. Through our community partnerships, we can better fulfill our mission: “willing workers employed and community resources maximized.”
To help youth gain life skills needed for future employment, Goodwill partners with Big Brothers Big Sisters Lincoln.
The mission of Big Brothers Big Sisters Lincoln is “to create and support one-to-one mentoring relationships that ignite the power and promise of young people.” The agency changes lives by pairing adult volunteer mentors (“Bigs”) with youth mentees (“Littles”). By partnering with Goodwill, Big Brothers Big Sisters Lincoln also offers employment preparation and career exploration for Bigs and Littles. Additionally, Bigs and Littles can further explore careers at Job Connection.
“Goodwill’s support creates a very profound impact,” said Shawn Ryba, Executive Director of Big Brothers Big Sisters Lincoln. “I think about the 200-or-so individuals we serve on an annual basis. I think about the countless community partnerships that we have that help us create a wide array of activities and experiences for the matches. I think about the positive relationships and the friendships we’re forming. I think about the new opportunities for the matches to explore. I think about the experiences shared, new things learned, and I think it’s those efforts that really make a very lasting, direct impact on the lives of young people.”
To learn more, watch our interview with Shawn Ryba or visit bbbslincoln.org
