Sisters “See What You Can Be” with Acclaimed Tween-Author Liz Suneby

Nationally recognized “tween” author Liz Suneby joined Big Sisters and Little Sisters in a two part workshop hosted by Jewish Big Brothers Big Sisters and funded by a grant from the Boston Jewish Community Women’s Fund. Suneby is the author of the acclaimed book published by American Girl, “See What You Can Be” a book aimed at girls exploring careers and goals.

Big Sisters were invited to the first workshop exclusively tailored to them in early January. Suneby explained how to use her book, with girls ages eight to twelve, which included determining what “type” of girl they were “hands on girl,” “big thinker,”  or “shaker-upper.” Many Big Sisters commented how fun the event was and that it would have been helpful to them earlier in their own lives.

In late February, Big Sisters were invited to bring their Little Sisters to a second workshop aimed at helping the girls discover careers that could be of interest to them. The workshop began with a panel of women who shared with the group how their interests and experience led to their current jobs.

Big Sister Jen, a high school guidance counselor in East Boston spoke about her education and career path that lead to her current position.  Linda, a Big Sister in the community program shared how she transitioned from paralegal to her dream of being a lawyer. Dog Trainer Martha shared her experiences as a Dog Trainer and shared how she was able to follow her love of animals into a career that she loved.  

Following the panel, “Bigs” and “Littles” enjoyed working through the activities in “See What You Can Be” including using an old fashioned paper fortune teller to help them discover new interests and possible careers. The event ended with a pizza party and many Little Sisters asking how they could enroll in dog obedience school!

Check out more pictures from this great event!

See All That You Can Be: JBBBS Welcomes Liz Sunneby

On Wednesday, January 21st, Jewish Big Brothers Big Sisters invited its Big Sisters in the community, activity and school plus programs to attend a workshop put on by award winning ”tween” author, Liz Suneby.

The room was packed with Big Sisters for this great event which aided our volunteers in working with their “Littles” in seeing the broad range of careers and opportunities available to them. Liz showed our “Bigs” the best way to use her book See What You Can Be including ways to share with “Littles” what their personality suggested about future careers. Are you a “Hands on Girl” or a “Shaker-Upper”?

Jewish Big Brothers Big Sisters and Liz Suneby have another workshop in store for back again for all of our community, activity and school plus Big Sisters and their “Littles”. Participants do not need to have attended the past event to attend this event.

During this workshop the two of you will have the opportunity to interact in fun and creative ways with other Big and Little Sisters while meeting a panel of professional women to hear about what they loved as girls, what they do today, and how their dreams lead them to their professional success.  Every Little Sister will get her own copy of the book, See What You Can Be for the “Big” and “Little” to use together in the future, and another book to give to another female friend!

Immediately following the event, JBBBS will host a pizza party for all those in attendance!

For more information please email Alanna at Alanna@jbbbs.org or ask your social worker.

We look forward to seeing you there to “See What You Can Be”!

Some of the JBBBS Big Sisters in attendance take a moment to show off thier new "See What You Can Be" books

JBBBS Recongized by Mass Mentoring

Jewish Big Brothers Big Sisters was recongized as an Inaugural Member of the Mass Mentoring Partnership Quality-Based program for mentoring agencies across the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

At a ceremony held at the State House in Boston on January 22nd, 2009, Jewish Big Brothers Big Sisters was recognized with 14 other organizations during a celebration of National Mentoring Month.

Inaugural Members of the program were instrumental in creating standards of high quality mentoring to children. JBBBS President/CEO Harvey Lowell, PhD and Vice President of Programs and Services Lisa Cohen LICSW, were instrumental in working with the Mass Mentoring Partnership in creating standards that help recognize organizations that provide high program quality.