The Roanoker - March/April 2021 - 20

the gist

Area's Oldest Mentoring
Program Ends, New One Begins
written by Aila Boyd TAP steps in to form Super Hero Kids Connections, a new mentoring program.

O

20 MARCH/APRIL 2021

Brittny McGraw, right, is
pictured with her little
sister at an event.

COURTESY OF SUPER HERO KIDS CONNECTION

ne of the area's most recognizable youth
mentorship programs has shut down after
having impacted the lives of local children for
decades. The Big Brothers Big Sisters of Southwest
Virginia (BBBS) program ended on January 31.
Luckily, Total Action for Progress (TAP) is stepping in
to fill the void.
" We regret that BBBS has to close and will do our
best to continue the important mentoring work that
has begun. TAP also looks forward to working with the
current partners and adding new ones, " Annette Lewis,
president of TAP, says.
An arrangement between the two organizations
will allow the program to become a component of
TAP's pre-existing program that focuses on trauma
and restoring hope and connections to local youth,
Super Hero Kids. Due the expense of affiliation fees
that accompany the name and branding of BBBS,
the program has been renamed Super Hero Kids
Connections.
" While we are sad to close the area's largest and
longest-running youth mentoring program, we are
confident it is the right choice. We are forever grateful
to TAP and confident the organization provides the
experience and resources necessary to best serve our
children, " Laura Carini, board president of BBBS, says.
At the time of the merger, the program had 50
matches between local children and big brothers and
big sisters. Stacey Sheppard, director of housing and
human services at TAP who will be overseeing the
program, stresses that all of the matches will continue
to be facilitated.
Lewis encourages children and adults who are
interested in participating in the program to reach out
to TAP.
BBBS traces its roots back to 1953 when a precursor
to the current program was started by the Roanoke
Junior Chamber of Commerce. It ceased operation the
following year, but was relaunched in 1968 with full
affiliation with Big Brothers of America. I

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