2022-2023 BBBSMT Impact Report
Download the 2022-23 BBBSMT Impact Report PDF here. View our 2021 – 22 Impact Report here.
Behind The Scenes: Match Stories of Impact
On a chilly Saturday morning in November 2021, our team met two incredible BBBSMT matches to film our 2021 Match Stories of Impact video. In this blog, we’re giving you a behind-the-scenes look at our video shoot, and introducing you to the stars of the show: Katrina and CeAzia, and Bernard and Destin.
Maximizing Impact and Intentionality: 2021 Annual Breakfast Recap
On Friday, December 10, 2021, our community gathered in celebration of all we have accomplished together in the past year, and to look ahead at our vision for 2022 and beyond. Our audience heard from BBBSMT CEO Melissa Hudson-Gant, a roundtable of community leaders, Bigs and Littles, and our agency partners about the impact of mentorship and how we are innovating to maximize our impact with intentionality in all we do.
Lessons from Big Brother James: You can only teach what you’ve been taught
Big Brother James learned at an early age the impact of a positive adult mentor and role model in a young person’s life. Growing up in a single-father home in inner-city Detroit, he felt grateful to have a father who taught him important life lessons and handy skills. He became a Big with Big Brothers Big Sisters of Middle Tennessee because he wants to pay it forward for generations to come and make sure young people know they are worthy and never alone.
Mentoring Matters with Brenda Gadd
Brenda Gadd is the president and founder of Rethink Public Strategies, a firm leading policy change at all levels of government. She is an advocate for gender and racial equity, and a recognized expert on advocacy, leading campaign, advocacy and candidate trainings throughout the U.S. Brenda reminds us that politics are about people and how important it is to be engaged. We sat down with Brenda to learn about her career and how mentorship has impacted her journey.
Mentoring Matters with Becky Sharpe
Becky Sharpe is the CEO of International Scholarship and Tuition Services and Collegiate Sports Data, and a Partner in WatchGameFilm. Her professional and volunteer endeavors focus on her passion of helping people grow. We sat down with Becky to learn more about the impact mentorship has had on her career and how she approaches mentorship today.
Mentoring Matters with Contrecia Tharpe
Contrecia Tharpe is an expert in branding, PR and communications. She founded her own boutique integrated marketing and communications firm in 2008, which she has overseen for the last 13 years. She is also a faculty member at Tennessee State University in the communications department where she teaches public speaking, marketing and communications courses. Contrecia shared some of her wisdom and experience with us in this valuable conversation around the impact of mentorship on her professional journey.
Mentoring Matters with Marcus Whitney
Marcus Whitney has a knack for entrepreneurship. As a self-taught, highly successful entrepreneur and founder of a multi-million-dollar venture capital firm, Marcus has a wealth of knowledge to share about entrepreneurship, venture funding, and what it takes to be successful in any business endeavor. He recognizes the importance of mentorship and shares how it has impacted his journey in this inspiring conversation.
Mentoring Matters with Cynthia Whitfield-Story
Cynthia Whitfield-Story is the President and CEO of INSPIRE1, LLC Consulting & Coaching Firm. Before starting her own company, she worked for Allstate Insurance for almost 40 years, where she developed crucial mentoring relationships with the leaders she admired. Cynthia worked her way up to an executive-level at Allstate and after retiring, followed her passion for leadership coaching and development by starting INSPIRE1. She says, “I think it’s important for people to follow their passion, dream big and find a mentor who can turn those dreams into a reality.” Read more about the impact mentorship has had on Cynthia’s life.
Mentoring Matters with David Plazas
David Plazas is a trusted voice in the Nashville community and beyond, serving as the director of Opinion and Engagement for the USA TODAY Network Tennessee. He has a strong commitment to civil discourse, and during his time as a guest mentor for Mentoring Matters, he and his attendees will discuss building trust and sustaining conversations in an era of disagreement, misinformation and polarization.
