Summary: Maggie Romigh is the Community Coordinator for Big Brothers BIg Sisters of Northern NM, located here in Las Vegas. Joni Martinez is a Social Work student at NMHU doing her internship with BBBS-NNM. Joni explains the goal of BBBS, which is to match young people in the community with adults who would be good role-models for the youth. As Maggie says, it's basically a mentoring organization that helps facilitate relationships between volunteers in the community and young people in the area who are interested in having a big brother or big sister to spend some time with on a regular basis. Independent research done on the BBBS program highlights some of the successes. Children involved in BBBS are: 46% less likely to use illegal drugs; 27% less likely to start drinking; 52% less likely to skip school; and 33% less likely to engage in violent behavior. New research also shows that adults who were in the program when they were children are 75% more likely than their peers to have a 4-year college education, and are 52% more likely to become volunteers in their own community. The Northern NM Chapter is currently serving 53 children in our community. There are also more than 40 children on the waiting list who need a local Big Brother or Big Sister. Little Brothers and Little Sisters range in age from 5-18 years old. Big Brothers and Big Sisters range in age from 16-18 in the school-based program, and 18 and older in the community-based program. You're never too old to be a Big Brother or Big Sister. They need more volunteers. They also accept donations. Please contact BBBS if interested in enrolling or making a contribution.
Resources: Big Brothers Big Sisters of Northern NM 801 Friedman Ave./P.O. Box 1465 Las Vegas, NM 87701 http://www.bbbs.org/northernnm/ (505) 426-4801 / (505) 426-8510 mromigh[at]bbbsnorthernnm.org
Pat'sExtraNotes: Dennis has planned and runs this show. Curtis does the engineering. Great job, guys!
Thank you, David, for our CPR intro music: http://www.DavidRovics.com/
