Big Brothers Big Sisters, Maryland Mentoring Partnership join forces

Posted: 4:38 pm Thu, July 1, 2010
By Rachel Pryzgoda

Two Maryland mentoring organizations announced their merger Thursday, a move that the Baltimore City Police Department says will ultimately make the community safer.

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Maryland and the Maryland Mentoring Partnership bring different strengths to the new organization, said Selwyn Ray, who was executive director of Maryland Mentoring Partnership and will be vice president of community engagement and partnership of the new group, which employs about 50.

Maryland Mentoring Partnership, of Baltimore, will join Big Brothers Big Sisters at its location on Clipper Mill Road in the city in August, he said.

Both nonprofits worked with corporations and the community to match “mentees” with positive adult role models who will provide guidance and friendship.

“The whole is bigger than the parts,” Ray said. “We can reach more young people and also allow foundations to see more clearly of where to invest.”

Ray said his organization of 10 employees specialized in training mentors, while Big Brothers Big Sisters excelled in developing and continuing mentor/mentee relationships, as well as measuring the success rate of the matches.

“We have a better product now,” he said. “Now we have both training and measurement.”

The idea for the merger was first addressed about 18 months ago by board members from both groups who thought they could build on each other well, according to Robin Tomechko, former CEO of Big Brothers Big Sisters who will be CEO of the new organization.

Board member Roger Ralph said improving and expanding mentoring will improve the employment rate and decrease crime levels in the city.

“God bless this merger,” said police Commissioner Frederick Bealefeld III. “It comes down to these relationships [to make the community safer],” he said.