HBCU Founded Women’s Organization wins Racial Equity Grant

By: Carrington Gilbert

Big Sister Little Sister (BSLS) has announced receiving a Mentoring for Racial Equity grant from Chronus, the leaders in Mentoring Software. The focus of the new grant will be to launch a series of programs to BSLS program participants. The programs will consist of BSLS: Hear Our Voice (a self-awareness and esteem program that addresses depression, anxiety, self-worth, and confidence), BSLS: Self-Care Series, BSLS: Professional Development Series, BSLS: WOMENForce | Lock + Key (a career-planning program), STEM Ready, We Matter Period (a program that provides hygiene and feminine products for our members, youth, and homeless women in need), and BSLS: Financial Literacy Program. BSLS will receive a three-year pro bono contract for Chronus mentoring software and services to support their programs, valued at $80,000. In addition, they will receive a one-time cash grant in the amount of $7,500 to assist in the facilitation of the mentoring program that will support program participants.

One of the significant problems that women of color face in their professional careers is the pay wage gap and decreased women’s representation in professional settings. Participation in the BSLS: Professional Mentorship programs will aid in decreasing these gaps. After completing a series of programs, participants will be instilled

with the necessary skills to dominate the field of their choice, college attrition rates will be reduced for women and girls of color nationally, and lifetime leaders will be grown. “The catalyst for change begins at the intersection of intent and meaningful impact,” said Louis Desforges, Assistant Vice President, Diversity & Inclusion, L’Oréal, and a member of the selection committee. “Big Sister Little Sister Mentoring Program’s commitment to making a positive and lasting impact on school campuses, in communities, and in the lives of women and youth will create the future leaders that will one day influence our society in a powerful and sustainable way.”

Big Sister Little Sister was founded in 2008 at Florida A & M University (FAMU), by Aneisha Hughes, founder and CEO of BSLS. BSLS mentors women and girls of color to develop positive relationships in communities, campuses, and workplaces nationwide. “We aim to consistently impact young women and girls of color by ensuring their individual potential is reached as lifetime leaders with access to quality resources, mentors and programs that prepare our members for success. Chronus is the missing piece to taking BSLS’ professional mentorship infrastructure to new heights,” said Aneisha Hughes.

Chronus was established in 2007 to empower the world’s top employers to shape the future-ready workforce by delivering mentoring software that unleashes the full potential of their people. Millions of people have experienced the innovative mentoring software, including organizations such as Amazon, Edward Lifesciences, Electronic Arts, McGraw Hill, and Mercedes Benz.