Good Afternoon,
I write to you today in these times of recession to ask you to spend. But spend a little differently.
I would like you to spend social capital. All my life I have had a plethora of role models that helped open up the world to me through athletics, arts and crafts and civics. Unfortunately, as most of you know, most youth raised in Roxbury and the surrounding areas are not as fortunate.
For the past 8 or 9 years I have committed myself to being the same type of positive role model for youth as my mentors were for me. I have worked at Dorchester's Little House engaging young people in the evening teen program. I have worked with Dorchester Bay's Youth Force and Dudley Street Neighborhood Initiative's Youth Council. It is some of the most gratifying moments of my life not only spending time with young people but watching and helping them develop into young adults with life skills and strong values.
In our community the need for more mentors is great (especially men) ! There are over 3,000 young people in the 02119 zip code alone between the ages of 7-14. Many of them in low income single family households.
My current work is as a recruitment coordinator for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Massachusetts Bay.
Here's is where the spending happens. . .
You yourself can spend time (a commodity most people think they don't have) and volunteer to spend a couple of hours, a couple of times a month for a year with a young person who's life you can impact merely through a one to one friendship. . .for more details please ask. . .there is a great process that matches you with a young person with similar interests and a fantastic infrastructure that supports you the child and the child's family throughout.
or
You might know of a person who potentially would be a great "Big" in which case please help them connect with me.
or
You may know of an upcoming event where I could possibly share information with people.
or
You may work for a company or organization that supports or encourages community involvement and philanthropic efforts. In which case I would love to contact HR or a decision maker that could facilitate an information session either downtown at our home offices (dinner, my treat for the session) or on site at your company/organization (lunch, my treat for the session).
I know your time is valuable, and you may be thinking what would I do with the child. "Littles" as we call them have told me that some of their enjoyable activities are things we as adults consider chores. (washing the car, planting flowers, running errands, seeing parts of Boston they have never seen before, going to events that Big Brothers Big Sisters get tickets for and pass on to "Bigs" at no charge)
Please think about it. . . and if you have any ideas how to increase mentoring of the young people in our community don't hesitate to share it.
I thank you in advance,
Carlos Henriquez
(617)956-0291 work
(617)642-4195 work cell
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