College & Future Readiness

Ready for your big future?

Our College & Future Readiness (CFR) programming is part of our Big Futures initiative designed to equip young people ages 12+ with the skills needed to graduate from high school, prepare for a career or post-secondary education, and turn dreams into reality. With the guidance of volunteer mentors and our staff, we support youth in discovering where their passions lie and help them set goals and benchmarks to get there.

What type of college & future readiness support is offered?

We offer many youth development opportunities to support Littles (youth enrolled in our programs) throughout middle and high school, and even beyond as a Big Brothers Big Sisters alumni. Our College & Future Readiness team offers holistic support focused on post-secondary readiness and career exploration opportunities in the following ways:

EXPLORE Events for Youth Interests & Careers

Exploring interests and career paths can pave the way for a promising future for a young person. That’s why our Big Futures team regularly host events aimed at introducing youth ages 12+ to diverse career opportunities and hands-on skills. In partnership with local organizations and businesses, these events empower them to explore and experiment with their interests firsthand through workplace tours and hands-on workshops. Check out some of our past events with these partners below!

1:1 Youth Support for Career, College and Future Paths

Learning about possible career paths and interests can be the start of a promising future for a young person. Our BBBS team helps Littles in middle, high school, and alumni match their interests to real-world job opportunities and give them a head start in thinking about future careers. Our age-appropriate services include:

Scholarships & Financial Aid Opportunities

Paying for college can be daunting. Fortunately, there are many resources available to help supplement the costs. Our College & Future Readiness staff connects Littles and alumni with local, state, and national scholarship opportunities and platforms that make applying for scholarships for manageable. 

Thanks to the generosity of Federated Insurance, our Littles and alumni can apply for the Federated Challenge Scholarship. This scholarship is available for Littles/Alumni who have been matched for 18 months or longer looking to attend a two-year or less post-secondary Minnesota institution. Applications generally open in February, and recipients are announced by June. The scholarship provides up to $5,000 per year for a maximum of $10,000 total. Learn more

Who can receive this college & future readiness support?

Youth participants already enrolled in our programs, and who are of at least 12 years of age. Watch this video below to learn how Big Brothers Big Sisters is investing in big futures for youth nationwide.

Meet our Big Futures Team

Brittany Pinales Director of Big Futures

Charmaine Bell Manager of Participant Resources

Kelly Latterell Manager of Program Events

Brittany Mugg College & Future Readiness Coordinator

Sorena Yang College & Future Readiness Coordinator

Silvia Ángel  Bilingual College & Future Readiness Coordinator (Spanish)

Adalí Flores-Mendoza Bilingual Program Events Coordinator (Spanish)

Partner with us to ignite big futures!

Big Futures is seeking like-minded organizations and individuals to increase youth access and resources to various college and career opportunities. Mentors and organizations are welcome to reach out with interest by emailing us at futures@bigstwincities.org. Here are a few ways you can get involved and help secure Twin Cities youth their big futures.

Host a Career Explore Event

Our EXPLORE Careers events are an opportunity for organizations to volunteer time, expertise, and environment to allow young people in middle school and high school to explore the many career options within any workplace. For young people, this experience allows them to begin questioning what careers or fields are of interest to them.

Volunteer to be a Career Big

Our Career Bigs program is seeking professionals to mentor middle school, high school, and college-aged youth as they identify, clarify, and deepen their pursuit of a specific career interest. Career Bigs come from a variety of professions, and will have the opportunity to connect with BBBS youth and their adult mentors to facilitate informational interviews and provide insight into their profession from an insider’s perspective.