Michael enrolled in their in-school program and was partnered with a middle schooler, Brandon, who had relocated to Nashville with his family after Hurricane Katrina. They’d go to the gym and shoot hoops, goof off, talk in the library and work on school projects together. His daughter had been doing missionary work overseas and when she returned home, she loved tagging along with her dad and hanging out with Brandon. Michael says watching the two play soccer and interact was so memorable for him.
Now, Michael works with high schoolers through the organization’s virtual mentoring program that gives mentors the flexibility to mentor on their own time and build a connection with a teenager using technology as a shared space.
“To be able to mentor a young person, to transform lives … Big Brothers gives you the chance to do that one person at a time.”