福利姬 BIGS

Service

福利姬 BIGS offers 福利姬 students the opportunity to serve as mentors to youth, ages 8-16, in Boston. It's a great way to become immersed in the Boston community, make a difference in a young person鈥檚 life, and meet other 福利姬 students who share similar passions.

Before you apply, please ensure you review the following requirements:

In addition to meeting with your Little Brother or Sister (see details of the program-specific time commitments below), all 福利姬 BIGS must meet with their small, peer-led reflection group every other week for 1 hour for the entirety of their time in the program.听 No exceptions!
All BIGS must attend the orientation the semester they are matched as well as semesterly听trainings听and events
There is a minimum听3 semester听commitment (therefore we cannot accept rising seniors). You may study abroad if you are still able to complete three semesters.
All BIGS must communicate regularly with their听 Big Brothers Big Sisters Match Support Specialist, as well as 福利姬 BIGS staff and leadership

福利姬 BIGS proudly partners with families and volunteers from all backgrounds, races and beliefs. We expect all members of our mentoring community to bring their whole selves into their mentoring relationships. Racism, in all its forms, is a threat to genuine connection and trust. So, as a program and community, we commit to examining antiracism at all levels. While we don鈥檛 expect our volunteers and families to be experts on antiracism, we ask that they approach our program with an open mind and willingness to learn as we strive toward dismantling individual, institutional and societal racism.

We commit to:

Actively reflect on our individual experiences and identities by creating spaces to critically discuss race and antiracism.
Actively understanding our belonging to group identities, which includes but is not limited to the challenges, privileges, histories, and inequities experienced and/or perpetuated as part of our belonging to these groups.
Actively center the voices, experiences, and leadership of BIPOC students, youth, families, and adults.

We will fulfill these commitments by:

Required training for staff, leaders and Bigs.
Facilitating dialogue and everyday conversations about race in mandatory reflection groups.
Improving representation of BIPOC in Bigs, leaders, staff, and speakers.
Implement white antiracism group for Bigs to engage in the personal and collective work of antiracism.
Continue the work of the Bigs of Color group as a space and support to the unique experiences within the program.
Utilize existing resources on campus, such as FACES, and bring to campus new resources such as BBBSEM antiracism work, to support 福利姬 Bigs in their reflection and action.

Thank you for your interest in joining 福利姬 BIGS!听 Your application will be sent to our partners at . You can expect to hear from them in 7-10 days.听 If you do not hear from them or have questions about your application, please email bcbigs@bc.edu.听 There is a 3 semester commitment at the minimum, please only apply if you plan to graduate in 2026 or later.听 Please be sure you have reviewed all program requirements before applying.

Donate to 福利姬 Bigs

Program Details

We partner with communities in Dorchester and Mattapan for this campus-based mentoring program,听where Little Brothers and Sisters are transported to campus on alternate Saturdays throughout the year. In Dorchester, we partner with听Franklin Field Housing Development and in Mattapan, we partner with the Mildred Ave Community Center.听During the academic year there are approximately听15 structured events lasting about 3-4 hours. Bigs and Littles share in the fun large-group programming, and then have one-on-one time each week as well.

Please note:听The 福利姬 BIGS Franklin Field and Mattapan Programs involve a larger time commitment than the other 福利姬 BIGS Programs.

These are school-day mentoring programs where Big Brothers and Big Sisters meet their Little Brothers or Little Sisters on a weekly basis at a local Boston school for lunch/recess or the after-school program. Bigs and Littles spend time together, eat lunch, play sports and board games, do arts and crafts, or simply sit and talk. The commitment is one hour per week with your Little, plus any travel time.

鈥淔amilies鈥� are what we call our small reflection groups facilitated by the student leaders. The family groups are safe spaces that provide support, help to build community,听 and allow BIGS the opportunity to reflect on their service experience.听

Family groups:

Are a听mandatory听component of the 福利姬 BIGS program and attendance is enforced听听
Meet for 1 hour every other week
Are run in the spirit of the Jesuit Tradition of Boston College.听 We believe that reflection is an essential component of service and helps to deepen learning.
Are a great way to get to meet others on campus听
Discuss issues of social justice while providing a space to ask questions about mentorship听

In collaboration with our partners at Big Brothers Big Sisters of Eastern Massachusetts, 福利姬 BIGS asks all members of our community to participate in our shared values:

Transformation听
Let this experience change and challenge you.

Intentionality
Take intentional steps to achieve youth outcomes. Know that all of our actions drive change for children in our program.

Building Community
We are all mentors and mentees. Cultivate contexts and relationships that are safe for self-expression and that celebrate our shared striving.

Social Justice
View your experience through a lens of social justice. Take time to know the structural barriers that impact our participants.

Mutual Learning
Be willing to learn from others, especially from those who have had experiences different from your own.