Little Brother / Little Sister

Little Brother/Little Sister (LBLS) is a collaborative mentoring program between the Winooski community and Saint Michael’s College. The program consists of 50-60 Saint Michael’s students (Bigs) and 50-60 students from the local Winooski area (Littles). It is a three-to-four-year program. This ensures the Bigs to have the ability to develop valuable relationships with their Little until graduation and ideally, after.

The children are in first through third grade at John F. Kennedy Elementary School in Winooski, Vermont. They are nominated by their parents, teachers or guidance counselors to participate in this program. Then, program coordinators match the Littles with Bigs. Bigs are selected for the program after going through a written application and interview process.

This program involves a three-hour-per-week commitment in which the Big brings the Little to campus to play in the gym, read in the library, play games, and eat in the cafeteria on a one-on-one basis or in small groups. Transportation is provided.

Throughout the year, various events are planned to bring the entire program together for trick-or-treating, a holiday party, and an end-of-the-year mentor/mentee celebration. In addition, small group trips are planned off campus, including bowling.

The ultimate goal of the program is for youth in the Winooski area to have an additional positive role model in their life and to have consistency in what can be an unstable childhood. By matching Littles with a Big for three to four years, we hope that they will be able to build a strong relationship based on fun, trust, and reliability. (There is no conflict for Bigs interested in study-abroad, LBLS coordinators will work with you to find a suitable replacement mentor for the semester).

Applications for the LBLS program are available every year in September. If you are interested in this program please contact Kate '11.