Florida Memorial University is joining forces with Big Brothers Big Sisters of Miami (BBBSM) for a mentorship and scholarship program. On Thursday, January 19, from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., FMU will host a kickoff event in its Smith Conference Center, where faculty and staff serving as mentor “Bigs” will meet their Littles for the first time. The Littles, all students from Miami Carol City Senior High School and Miami Norland Senior High School, will experience an immersion into HBCU culture.
Following a breakfast, ceremony, and welcome remarks from Dr. Jaffus Hardrick, FMU President, and Gale Nelson, President and CEO of BBBSM, the Littles will enjoy a campus tour, meet and greet with FMU’s Royal Court, and a performance from The ROAR marching band. All Littles participating in the program will receive a scholarship, allowing many of them to become first-generation college students, perhaps even future FMU Lions. The program aims to expose the Littles to a variety of opportunities via education and career paths, setting them up for a successful college experience and beyond.
BBBSM has a long history in South Florida, with the ultimate goal of empowering Littles to achieve success in their personal and academic lives through community-based one-on-one mentorship. The organization is rooted in social justice with an emphasis on building mutual trust and respect for Miami’s youth.
“Nothing is more rewarding than seeing our Littles graduate on time and meet their career goals,” said Gale Nelson. “When our alums begin to achieve success, it allows them to provide for themselves, their families and their communities for the rest of their lives.”
FMU is South Florida’s only HBCU, offering degrees in high-demand fields like aviation, education, computer science, healthcare, renewable energy, and innovation technology. A major goal of the University is forming programs and partnerships that create unparalleled opportunities for its students.
“This partnership embodies so many of FMU’s values and goals,” said Dr. Hardrick. “When our mentors can help instill leadership, character, and service, while developing job-ready skills, the entire community benefits.”
Please feel free to download photos from FMU’s official Flickr account.
Here is the link: https://www.flickr.com/photos/fmulions/albums/72177720305455542
