Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Lehigh Valley will hold a town hall on December 13th at 6:30 p.m. The community will convene at BBBSLV’s Youth Mentoring Center for an open floor session with community leaders that are committed to serving youth in Lehigh County. Discussion will be around preventing youth from engaging in risky behaviors.

“The goal of the Town Hall meeting is to convene community leaders who are committed to the same goal. By working together, our youth will benefit, and our community will be strengthened,” said BBBSLV CEO Susan Bartels.

Community leaders in attendance will include Allentown Mayor-Elect Matt Tukerk, Tyrone Fisher, Director of Volunteer Engagement of BBBSLV along with Mitza Morales, Principal of Roberto Clemente High School, Gonzalez Smith of G&A Barbershop, Darnelle Scott of Promise Neighborhoods and Mark Little of Skilled Cutz.

The floor will be open for discussion on the following topics:

· Develop solutions on Defending the Potential of the Youth in the Lehigh Valley;

· Identify similar programs represented in the Community;

· Strategies on creating a ‘Prevention’ Coalition;

· Discuss Potential Partnerships and,

· Call for ‘Prevention’ Volunteers & Follow-Up

BBBSLV is leading the discussion on prevention thanks to a grant received from the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime & Delinquency. The goal of the program is to serve 45 new Allentown youth by 2/23/2023. BBBSLV will work with these youth to keep them from engaging in risky behaviors such as gang involvement, alcohol, drug use and other criminal behavior.

“BBBSLV has a 50-year history of defending the potential of Lehigh Valley youth through one-to-one mentoring relationships,” said Bartels. “We wanted to convene others in our community

who are serving youth in Allentown and Lehigh County who understand the importance in partnering together to protect our youth.”

BBBSLV is looking for adult volunteers who live and work in Allentown to spend 2-4 times a month doing mutually agreed upon activities. For more information about volunteering and BBBSLV programs, visit the Becoming a Big – Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Lehigh Valley (bbbslv.org).

ABOUT MAYOR-ELECT MATT TUERK: Matthew Tuerk is an American politician and economic development official, who is the mayor-elect of Allentown, Pennsylvania, and will become the city’s 43rd mayor in January 2022. Despite entering a crowded field with low name recognition, Tuerk became the first candidate to defeat an incumbent mayor in an Allentown primary since 1973. Tuerk will be the city’s first Latino mayor. Previously, he held positions in the Allentown Economic Development Corporation and the Lehigh Valley Economic Development Corporation.

11/18/21. Fall cleaning, much like spring-cleaning, can be slightly overwhelming. But, when you have community partners like the Lehigh Valley Labor Council lend their hands and hearts to the BIG Fall clean, you can conquer anything! Last Saturday, over thirty volunteers came together to prepare our Youth Mentoring Center for the Winter season.

Fall Clean Up Lessons 101:  

• Cooking oil can be used to fix squeaky door hinges. Grease hinges and give them some love and care so they open and close smoothly.  

• On a cloudy day, clean the windows on the inside and outside. It gives a little more time for the lather to dry and eliminates streaks. 
• Open windows to let in that refreshing, crisp autumn breeze, this makes it easier to wipe down window sills with a damp cloth for dusting and deodorizing.
• White Easy eraser sponges are great for cleaning white cabinets in the kitchen and can also be used for errors made on large Art projects. (STEAM hack downloaded….Ha!)
• Decrease the clutter by recycling Tupperware, old school papers, plastic bags and bottles. Save and organize items you may need later like batteries, flashlights, and first aid items so you can easily find them when you need them. 
• Time flies when you are having #fun! The project wrapped up earlier than expected because Together Everyone Achieves More. (Yay, TEAM!)

Where else can you have this much fun volunteering AND learn a few life hacks, too?! Special thanks to our Teen Works Board members, apprentices’ from International Brotherhood of Electrical Worker (IBEW) 375  and the Labor Council for pitching in to make our Fall Clean Up project a sparkling success! We are more than ready to serve the community at our Winter events and celebrations. See you there!

Nathaniel

Age: 7

On waitlist since: June 2021

Interests: video games, playing outside, soccer, flag football, dancing, going to the zoo,

Nathaniel would like a big who enjoys spending time outdoors and is active! Someone who can help him socially, Nathaniel is quiet at first. He is very excited and happy to get a Big!

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Lehigh Valley (BBBSLV) is pleased to announce the appointment of two new board members, attorney Glennis Clark of the Law Offices of Glennis L Clark, and Rocco Zegalia with TWG Security.

“Our Board of Directors is comprised of a dedicated team of community leaders who are passionate about defending the potential of Lehigh Valley youth” said Susan Bartels, CEO of BBBSLV. “We are excited to incorporate Glennis and Rocco’s talents and expertise into furthering our mission.”

Glennis Clark is a civil and criminal litigator, who also handles family court and immigration matters. Licensed for 38 years, Clark possesses a wealth of experience in many facets of the judicial system. Before entering into private practice, he worked for 10 years in the District Attorney’s office. Clark’s community involvement spans decades as well, with time spent supporting organizations such as the United Way, Minsi Trails Council of the Boy Scouts of America, and the Allentown Human Relations Commission.

“It is my distinct honor and privilege to serve on the Board with such highly committed and dedicated leaders in our community to improve the welfare of young people,” added Clark.

Rocco Zegalia is the Director of Sales at TWG Security in Emmaus. He possesses over two decades of enterprise sales and marketing experience. A graduate of Mansfield University, he remains very active as a fundraiser for the university football program and with the alumni community. Zegalia is a veteran of the U.S. Air Force and has been active with the Lehigh Valley Chamber of Commerce Veterans and Military Affairs Council, the Lehigh Carbon Community College Veterans and Military Affairs Council and the Lehigh Valley Homeless Veteran Fund Committee. He currently serves as an Executive Board Member of the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society and is a member of the Executive Forum of the Lehigh Valley.

“When I was a young teen, I was matched with a Big and he was able to help me navigate through a somewhat difficult period of my life. I am honored and privileged to be able to serve on this board and give back in any way I can to this fantastic organization,” said Zegalia.

The 2021-2022 BBBSLV Board of Directors are:

Chair, Christopher Zajacik of Grace Realty Co.; Vice Chair, Cynthia Allan of PPL Corporation; Treasurer, Luke Schaeffer of Stoudt Associates; Secretary, Lisa Liddington of Lehigh Valley Health Network; Immediate Past Chair, Josh Hinkle of Stifel, Valley Wealth Management Group; Eric Bartosz of Contra Vision; Lorena Bravo of Organic Tans; Victoria Brifo of Air Products; A. Terry Burnett of the Pennsylvania State Education Association; Matthew Dorman of Jones Lang LaSalle; Arundhati Khanwalkar, Attorney; Mike Lahanas of Embassy Bank; Judy Nymberg of The Dale Group; Murdocc Saunders of Herff Jones Yearbooks; and Susan Bartels of BBBSLV.

About Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Lehigh Valley:

The mission of Big Brothers Big Sisters is to create and support one-to-one mentoring relationships that ignite the power and promise of youth. Children enrolled in our programs experience improvements in academics, sociability and self-confidence. In 2021, BBBSLV is celebrating its 50^th anniversary.   www.BBBSLV.org

CONTACT: Kimberly Hopkins, khopkins@bbbslv.org

Ron Arnold is a generous, longtime supporter of BBBSLV who is also a former Big Brother. For this month’s 3 Questions segment, we asked Ron about his historical tie to the mission and what motivates him to stay connected as a donor.

What led you to the mission of Big Brothers Big Sisters?

I was in my twenties, working as an engineer in the Los Angeles area and generally doing well in life – beyond what I (and others) expected of me while I was growing up in a small town in Central New York state. I felt called to give back, and specifically to help guide a young person towards a good future. The Big Brothers program provided that opportunity and I was matched with 10-year old Jason. I enjoyed both the fun and the challenges of being a Big Brother.

Why do you choose to support BBBSLV as a major donor?

The main reason is that I saw the positive impact that I and other Bigs were having on the boys and girls in the program. As I continued to be blessed in my own success, I was able to increase my charitable giving and after moving to the Lehigh Valley, providing strong financial support to BBBSLV to indirectly help support the success of others just felt right to me and my wife, Marie.   

You are very involved in the community, which is terrific. What inspires or motivates you to stay engaged and help others?

My wife and I have fully bought into the concept of sharing one’s time, talent and treasure. Not only is it the right thing to do, but we find we get back more than we give. For example, our long-time involvement in marriage preparation strengthened our relationship as much as it helped those getting married.

We have made the Lehigh Valley our home for over 20 years, and it is important to us that we help build a welcoming, inclusive, and strong community here. We have been blessed financially and we find it is quite rewarding to share our treasure, as well as being actively involved, to help address the Valley’s opportunities and challenges.

Big Sister Johanna saw the value of mentoring in 2013, when she became a Big as a freshman at Liberty High School. The experience made an impression on her and when she found herself with extra time during the pandemic, she chose to give back once again—this time as a Big in our community-based program.  We sat down with Jo to learn more about her journey and decision to return to as a Big Sister.

What motivated you to first become a Big Sister in High School?

Initially we were required to get a certain amount of community service hours, but I also really liked working with children. I’ve always enjoyed babysitting, which I’ve done on and off with different families since I was 13.  I think when I was high school I recognized the importance of giving where you can and helping people in an interactive way. Being there for someone and getting to know them on a personal level was important to me, and it’s still really important to me.

What kinds of things did you do with your Little, Mayaleez, while you were a High School Big?

We would sometimes work on homework because she was struggling with math at that time. Some weeks we would spend doing all homework; some weeks we did no homework.

Her interests evolved throughout those three and a half years. Initially she was really into arts and crafts. By our last year, she was really into basketball, so she wanted me to watch her practice.

Is there a special memory that you have with Mayaleez?

Almost every week in high school, my Little would give me drawings she’d made. It’s hard to put into words, but there’s this sense of fulfillment and joy – the realization that you belong. And that was really special, to receive her art and know that there was something intrinsically significant about just being there for someone.

They talk about where you get your energy in Psychology and I think the program facilitated a really big energy source for me as a high schooler. It can be attributed to helping people and feeling confident that you are doing a good thing–and getting this bigger world view than maybe what you’re used to. The whole is greater than the sum of its parts and I think Big Brothers Big Sisters really embodies that idea of being a part of something much, much bigger than just you or even just your match.

So, after you graduated from high school, you attended college locally and studied music. What made you recently want to get rematched as a community-based Big Sister?

It was during the pandemic. Once I settled on a major, that stressor was eliminated. Things opened up and I had time. I think for anyone in the arts, it’s really important to do something in addition to that. As musicians, there’s a tendency to become consumed by what we’re doing. Because of the nature of working on pieces or playing in an ensemble, you’re always thinking “What am I doing wrong? How do I sound? How do I improve?” So, it’s really important to step away sometimes and do something that has nothing to do with music–to do something that hopefully helps other people, improves the community in some way, and contributes in a way that’s meaningful. Because I had such a good experience in high school, this seemed like a clear next step.

You were matched with your new Little Sister, Mikayla, last fall. What have you been up to?

The pandemic definitely influenced the progression of things. We went to the pumpkin patch at the very end of October, we baked sugar cookies at the mentoring center a couple of months ago, we’ve gotten ice cream, and we went to a farm. Right now we’re working on getting everyone’s schedules to align. Middle schoolers are very different than elementary schoolers; they’re a lot busier.

Do you have particular things in common or is there anything you’re planning to do with Mikayla this Summer?

She wants to go to Sky Zone so badly and that was the one thing that was absolutely non-negotiable with the pandemic. We also have tickets to the zoo. I think she’s still finding out what she likes and doesn’t like. She kind of has a hand in everything. She does volleyball, she really likes animals and she likes playing in band.

Would you have any advice for anyone who was thinking about becoming a Big Brother or Sister?

I think if you’re considering it, it’s definitely indicative of interest. It’s so good to just step outside of yourself and your personal life. It’s kind of therapeutic to not think about yourself and focus on something that is meaningful and hopefully will positively impact someone else . If you’re thinking about it, try it. It’s a program that I feel confident working with and it’s been a great experience.

June is Pride Month, a month-long observance of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and questioning (LGBTQ) history, and a time when the world’s LGBTQ communities come together to celebrate the freedom to be themselves.

Big Brothers Bigs Sisters welcomes the differences that make us all unique. By sharing diverse stories, we help promote acceptance, create a safe space for all Bigs & Littles, and offer possibilities that empower youth to make the decisions best for them.

This Pride, we share the compelling story of Big Sister Judy. Judy is a parent of a transgender woman and now, a mentor. We sat down with Judy to learn more about her journey, motivations, and lessons learned along her rainbow-colored path.

Tell us a bit about your personal connection to the LGBTQ community.

Well, even as a child, I just assumed that men should be able to marry men; women should be able to marry women. I never even thought about it. And then when I was going through coaching training, I really wanted to focus on the LGBTQ community, I just didn’t know how. I had no idea yet how deeply this was going to impact my life.

Then in 2016, right around my child’s 28^th birthday, I sent her a card and wrote why I was so grateful for her. When she got the card, she called me. At that point she was living in Seattle and said, “Mom, I’m thinking I’m transgender.”

And I asked, “OK, so what does that mean? Are you going to live as a woman? Are you going to be gender fluid? What exactly are you saying?”

She responded that she didn’t know yet. She knew. She just didn’t want to tell me yet.

In June of 2017, she had to tell everybody because her father was going to visit her. At that point, she had just started taking hormones and wasn’t even seeing a doctor yet.

After my ex-husband came home, everyone in the family was still using the name Michael and the pronoun “he.”  One day, my daughter said, “You know, even though she’s not here, we really should be using her preferred pronouns and her name.” And that really struck me because I think it’s important. It also helps you with that transition. We then have to start to learn. We have to grieve it. It’s a grief process because, you know, they call it their dead name because that person to them is pretty much dead and they’re rebirthing a whole new identity in the world.

It was very emotional because I was far away, but through it all and now as Mara, we’re closer than we’ve ever been. We connect with each other differently. Because she was holding back from being her true self, we were never able to get that full connection. Now that she’s female, and although she still lives in Seattle, we talk at least once a week and sometimes we talk two or three times a week.

What made you seek out Big Brothers Big Sisters?

I joined Facebook pages and transgender people would come on and say, “My family doesn’t like me anymore. I told my family and they aren’t accepting me.”

I started to see the statistics on how many transgender children are homeless or unwanted or can’t live as themselves because their parents wouldn’t accept it. And I thought, “How can I help?”

Plus, as I grow my leadership within the organization I work for, volunteering is really important—to go out and really give back to the community. So, I was out there looking and came across Big Brothers Big Sisters. As I was reading, I thought, “Yeah, I’m going to do this. And I’m going to be as upfront as possible. I want to support a transgender child.”

What do you feel are the biggest misconceptions about transgender people?

I think the misconception is that they choose this. They don’t choose this. This is who they are and I think science is starting to show that more and more in this present age. The only choice that they truly make is to live as their authentic self.

Do you have any advice for other parents of transgender children?

If your child tells you they’re transgender, don’t immediately write it off and say, “No.” From the beginning, you have to show acceptance and then do your research. There’s a lot of research out there. There’s Facebook groups that you can join and see; you don’t even have to participate. Try to find other parents of a transgender child. The last thing you want to do is alienate your child, because suicide rates are so high for children whose parents don’t accept them. And if nothing else, we don’t want to lose our child. Period.

Our June Limelight feature focuses on new staff member, Tyrone Fisher. We sat down with Tyrone to learn more about him and what led him to BBBSLV.

Title: Director of Volunteer Engagement

Role within BBBSLV: My Role with BBBSLV will be, fostering and establishing relationships with organizations and businesses in order to recruit a greater number of potential volunteers from the Lehigh Valley. I will also be engaged in community outreach to help create partnerships that can provide an ongoing supply of potential volunteers and financial support.

What drew you to work with BBBSLV?

The opportunity to make a difference in the lives of youth in my community and across this great nation.

What/Who inspires you or keeps you motivated?

My Family is my biggest inspiration! The love they have for me keeps me motivated to be the best person I can be. I strive to be a good example for my family and make them proud daily.

Who is one mentor who made an impact on your life and how?

My High School basketball coach, Mr. Waller. He showed me the importance of hard work and dedication. He was such a good example for me, not just by his words but by his actions and the way he carried himself.  He taught me that it was okay to be yourself and not conform to what society says is the norm. He taught me that I could achieve anything in life, no matter what others might have thought about me.  He was a guiding force and helped me to make better decision as a young man that have changed my life.

Do you volunteer anywhere else, or, are you involved with other community organizations?

 I Volunteer as a Coach for South Parkland Youth Association. I coach Football, Basketball and Lacrosse with the organization.

Describe your thoughts about the mission of Big Brothers Big Sister, in one or a few words.

Helping to make dreams a reality!

The first board of directors Bryan Gault ever served on – that of Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Lehigh Valley – was certainly one that had a hugely positive effect on his life. Serving several terms throughout the 1980s, and still a dedicated supporter of the agency’s two flagship events, Bowl For Kids’ Sake and the annual golf tournament, Bryan always mentions he “tried to be the best advocate for Big Brothers Big Sisters over the years.”

“I was recruited by a fellow board member, Rich Drobnicki,” Bryan, a partner at Wind Gap Chevy in Wind Gap, PA, says. “He told me about the program and the need for volunteers. I went to an event with the Bigs and Littles and I was hooked.”

When Bryan started on the board, he was a part of the agency based only in Lehigh County. It wasn’t until 1983 when the Lehigh County and Northampton County organization boards met to chart a path forward. “We were actually one of the first agencies to ‘regionalize’ in the Lehigh Valley,” Bryan says. “We were a small agency back then, very tight knit. We all chipped in for whatever task was needed.” The merger was one of the largest milestones he remembers for Big Brothers Big Sisters.

As a longtime board member, Bryan was very active in many Big Brothers Big Sisters special events – and was responsible for the annual golf tournament, which he’s supported since his early years on the Board.

“Bowl for Kids’ Sake was the most important event, and our goal in the early years was [to raise] $75,000,” Bryan remembers. “We had casino nights, golf tournaments, and trivia fundraisers, as well. We also had quarterly Big/Little events. Not only did the board members participate, we also brought our Littles, plus unmatched children. My heart sank at the realization that these kids didn’t have matches yet.”

That got Bryan involved as a Big Brother for a short time – and brought his wife onto the Board, as well. “[My Little Brother’s] mother was a flight attendant based out of Allentown, but got a job a year later and moved out of the area,” Bryan says. “They lived in a rough neighborhood, so she wouldn’t let him out to play. I taught him how to play baseball and he enjoyed going to the park where he could be with other kids.”

The most impactful moment, Bryan says, came when his wife volunteered to take an unmatched Little to Big Brothers Big Sisters’ annual holiday celebration. “We picked her up in downtown Allentown, my wife knocks on the door and out comes this girl in a velvet Christmas dress,” Bryan says. “Her father thanked us for taking her to the party. He had tears in his eyes because she was going to a party and she was such a happy girl.”

“My wife had the best time with her,” he continues. “She got a present before she left and said to my wife that the best present she could get was my wife to be her Big Sister. It melted our hearts.”

Though the goal for many events was to raise the needed funds to create more mentoring matches, Bryan also recalls the impact conveyed to the Greater Lehigh Valley community at each event. With so many unmatched children, Bryan knew the importance of events like Big Stories. “When we started the annual awards dinner, the stories of the Bigs and Littles didn’t leave a dry eye in the place,” he mentions. “You knew what a great program Big Brothers Big Sisters was in the Lehigh Valley.”

Asked why he’s been involved for nearly four decades, Bryan says simply: “The mentoring relationship makes a huge difference in a young person’s life.”

We thank Bryan for his many years of dedicated service to Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Lehigh Valley.

When Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Lehigh Valley (BBBSLV) was gifted a church on the Eastside of Allentown in 2015, an opportunity presented itself to reimagine the space and serve the local community through a youth mentoring center.

Today, the space continues to evolve, but the center on Carlisle Street is now equipped with a STEAM Lab outfitted for learning in the areas of Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Math.  Robotics kits, Lego walls, iPads and more offer children enrolled in the agency’s mentoring programs (Littles) access to technology and experiences intended to improve math skills and PSSA scores.

However, the reimagining did not stop there. With an eye on deepening the agency’s commitment to STEAM learning and enhancing outcomes for children served, BBBSLV CEO Susan Bartels needed funding to take a strategic next step: Preparing Littles for the 21^st century workforce. In that effort, she found the perfect partner in Lehigh County’s State Senator, Pat Browne, the Chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee.  

“Big Brothers and Big Sisters of the Lehigh Valley’s innovative new approach to introducing the next generation to STEAM skillsets is setting up our students for a successful future in the modern economy,” Senator Pat Browne said. “This program goes well beyond building a smart and skilled future workforce. They are teaching invaluable competencies, such as critical thinking and problem solving, which will serve these kids and young adults well for the rest of their lives.”

Embracing BBBSLV’s mission, Senator Browne secured funding through the PA Department of Education which enabled the agency to fully integrate STEAM learning into its curriculums and establish a new mentoring program called Beyond School Walls ^SM (BSW).

A signature program of BBBSLV’s parent organization, Big Brothers Big Sisters of America, Beyond School Walls ^SM is an innovative solution designed to combine evidence-based mentoring with opportunities for career exploration and workplace readiness. In collaboration with local businesses and partners in higher education, BBBSLV sources mentors (Bigs) to pair with Lehigh Valley middle and high school students in one-to-one mentoring relationships. Together, Bigs and Littles (matches) meet virtually to discuss topics such as email etiquette, professionalism, and career interests.

Since October of last year, BBBSLV’s BSW program has grown to three virtual cohorts, including employees and students from Sports Info Solutions, Inc., Lafayette College and Lehigh University.  A fourth cohort with St. Luke’s Hospital’s Temple University students will launch next month.

Armed with state funding, BBBSLV’s goal is to serve 50 children through BSW by June 30, 2022.

Additional funds secured will be utilized to broaden STEAM integration into existing BBBSLV mentoring programs and create novel experiences in the Lab at the mentoring center. Recent offerings for matches have included Lego night and sugar cookie baking, in addition to lava lamp, chromatography and string art projects. Bigs and Littles even learned how to build a foosball table using a shoebox.