Being a mentee can be a life-changing experience. Being a mentor can be a rewarding and fulfilling engagement. When young people become mentees, they are better prepared to navigate the challenges in life they’ll encounter while at the same time providing their mentor a real time look into the numerous opportunities and challenges a young person faces today.
Knowing the power of mentorship and engagement, Bank of America partnered with Big Brothers Big Sisters of Metropolitan Detroit to mentor and connect with a group of ninth-grade students from Madison High School in Madison Heights.
Since the fall of 2018, 19 ninth graders from the school have been meeting with financial professionals from Bank of America twice each month. The Bank’s leaders are providing mentorship while at the same time offering the students financial and career advice enabling the mentor/mentee teams to strengthen their bonds.
Instant connection
One mentor and mentee (aka “big” and “little”) pairing that bonded right from the start is Star Crawford, Community Relations Manager for Bank of America’s Detroit market, and Madison High School freshman Lanaya Haney.
Haney said having another trusted adult in her life is very helpful. “This gives me someone else to talk to and it makes me feel a little less alone in this world,” she said.
Crawford attributes their quick connection to their similar outgoing personalities.
“Big Brothers Big Sisters takes care in the thoughtful pairing of their Big’s with their Little’s,” Crawford said. “When I met Lanaya, my goal was to offer her a safe place to express herself. I had the opportunity, fairly quickly, to see where she has struggled and needed help as well as how she thrives. Knowing some of these things about my Little helps me guide our interactions.”
Better Money Habits
Matt Elliott, Market President for Bank of America in Michigan, said that a partnership with BBBS supports the economic mobility focus of the bank’s philanthropy.
“Bank of America is proud to continue our legacy of connecting to the communities we call home. We believe this work benefits both our own teammates and the lives we get to engage with,” Elliott said. “While the Bank’s professionals help guide our mentees through honing soft skills and life lessons, resume writing, job interview preparation and getting them to think about beginning their financial life, we get the great opportunity to meet our country’s future leaders. The intentions of our work with BBBS are aimed at giving young people a leg up as they finish high school and approach adulthood while connecting us to impressive young people in this community.”
Students are learning Better Money Habits®, a Bank of America, free financial education curriculum which focuses on topics including budgeting, saving, being smart with credit and saving for college. Students also are learning about the kind of careers offered at a bank and what it takes to be a financial professional.
Seeing double
Madison High School students Cameron and Peyton Piccinini, who are twins, were paired with Bryan and Stuart Higgins, a father-son team who work as financial advisors at Merrill.
“I come from a similar background as these guys,” said mentor Bryan Higgins. “I understand the leap that’s needed to get from a working class neighborhood into the professional world. I hope I can bring to these young men a greater understanding of what opportunities lie ahead for them.”
The Piccinini boys, nicknamed “Newton” and “Manning” by their mentors in a nod to NFL players Cam Newton and Peyton Manning, both play multiple sports at Madison High, and aspire to play football at the University of Michigan. Stuart Higgins said he pushes the teens to focus on academics too, so getting into great schools can be a reality.
Regarding the mentorship program and what they want to get out of it, Peyton Piccinini said, “Experience, and learning how to talk to people, what to do in certain situations. I hope to work harder in school and on the field, and be the best that I can be.”
Every student has the ability to thrive
Nichole Joos, Manager of Program Delivery at Big Brothers Big Sisters of Metropolitan Detroit, said students’ interactions with their mentors helps them gain confidence.
“We believe any student can benefit from a mentor,” Joos said. “Increased confidence comes with one-on-one interaction with an adult. They talk about their goals and the process they need to go through to be successful. It’s one more adult in their life to help hold them accountable.”
Stacey Cauley is an Academic Advisor at Madison High, and is the school’s liaison for the Bank of America and Big Brothers Big Sisters mentorship program. Cauley follows up with students for feedback after meetings to see how things are going and to gain insight into what the students are looking to get out of the program.
“The students were invited to have a tour of the Bank of America offices in Troy, and needed to dress up. They were excited and wanted to make a great impression,” Cauley said. “You can tell by their personal investment in this that they have really grown up over just a few months.”
“Without great partners none of this would be possible,” added Joos. “We’re grateful for the time and support that Bank of America has devoted to the success of our young people.”
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