Worcester, MA – (February 25, 2025) – Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Mass & MetroWest and NABA INC. (formerly the National Association of Black Accountants) are proud to announce the national expansion of their partnership aimed at providing youth with greater access to tools, experiences, and mentorship to advance economic mobility. Originally piloted by Big Brothers Big Sisters (BBBS) of Central Mass & MetroWest, the partnership will now expand to additional cities, offering mentorship, career insights, and hands-on financial education to empower young people and help them build a strong foundation for success.
In alignment with Big Brothers Big Sisters of America’s workplace mentoring program, Big Futures, the expanded collaboration will further strengthen the pipeline from high school to college and careers for underrepresented youth. Through joint programming, this national partnership will create unique mentoring relationships, offer access to industry leaders, and provide career exploration opportunities, empowering youth to gain critical financial literacy skills and explore careers in accounting, business, and finance.
“We are incredibly proud of the success of the pilot program in Central Massachusetts and MetroWest, and we are thrilled that this partnership is now expanding on a national scale,” said Connie Askin, CEO of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Mass & MetroWest. “Our local program’s success is a testament to the power of mentorship and the support of our incredible volunteer Bigs. Together with NABA, we are ensuring young people have the tools and access to professional networks that are necessary to succeed and thrive in an ever-changing world.”
Building on the success of the local partnership, which included college students from MassBay Community College mentored by NABA members from local business leaders and PriceWaterhouseCoopers, the national expansion will focus on key cities, including Miami, Nashville, Indianapolis, New Orleans, Chicago, Atlanta, Washington, D.C., and New York City. The programs will offer financial literacy workshops, mentoring for high school students, career exploration events, and industry-specific mentorship for young adults in community colleges. In addition, BBBS youth, mentors, alumni, and staff will receive free NABA memberships, providing them with access to valuable networking opportunities, scholarships, and career development resources.
“The insights I received from my NABA mentor have been transformative,” said Pedro Henrique, a mentee from the original program with BBBS of Central Mass & MetroWest. “They helped open my eyes to career opportunities that I never thought were within reach. This expanded program will give so many others the same chance to achieve their goals.”
“It has been incredible to witness the growth and confidence of the mentees as a mentor with NABA,” said Jay Goldfarb, a mentor and Founder and Managing Director at Fortis Management Group. “Through this partnership, I have not only been able to share my experiences and knowledge, but I have also learned so much from the students. The expanded program will help create more of these meaningful connections and empower the next generation of leaders.”
For more information about the Big Brothers Big Sisters mentoring program or to learn how to become a Big, please visit the website here: https://bigscm.org/