Recently, Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Capital Region launched a new pilot mentoring program that hopes to create leaders who care.

This new program is designed in collaboration with the Schenectady City School District and is an effort to help students achieve their full potential. It’s also an attempt to get them involved in their communities to make social changes and create future leaders.

The program pairs third-grade students with 43 “City as our Campus” high school students, with a focus on academic success to development of pro-social behaviors. Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Capital Region hopes this furthers the organization’s commitment to creating and supporting one-on-one mentoring relationships that, “ignite the power and promise of youth.”

“This is our third week," said Lea Montalto-Rook, chief executive pfficer at Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Capital Region. "And the teachers have shared with us that attendance is up on the Mondays that we are here. The kids really look forward to coming in and meeting with their mentors. And our hope by the end of the program is that the third graders see what is possible for them for the future if they stay in school, if they work hard and really that they can set goals and work towards them and achieve their goals, whatever their goals might be. and then the 10th graders are turning around and mentoring the elementary, their third-grade elementary students.”