Editor’s Note: Big Brothers Big Sisters of Orange County & the Inland Empire is the 52nd largest nonprofit in Orange County, reporting $10.2 million in revenue for the year ended June 30. It has recruited 2,845 volunteers to mentor 3,587 youngsters.
Businesses and educational institutions in Orange County stand at a critical juncture, especially when it comes to fostering the next generation of professionals. “First in the family to earn a high school diploma” is not as cool as an impact stat anymore.
Eddy, one of our youths in our workplace mentoring program, shares the following story of how his mentor, Brad with Banc of California, helped reshape his perception about his future career path. “For me growing up, I didn’t have many people to guide me. Having someone like Brad is so comforting … things I had questions about, I suddenly had answers. Now I understand more than just a blue-collar world.”
This support helped Eddy find his path, and he has now been accepted into the Honors program at University of California, Berkeley, something he didn’t think was possible.
Mentoring stands out as a critical element of work-based learning, offering a personal touch that enhances traditional internships and job training methods. Big Brothers Big Sisters of Orange County (BBBS) is pioneering a scalable approach that underscores the profound impact of mentoring on college students, particularly those stepping into the professional world.
Labor Shortage
Orange County is facing an escalating labor shortage, especially in skilled labor areas. In 2018, Orange County had 16,000 more job postings than jobs filled, according to McKinsey.
By 2022, that number had grown to 42,000. Looking at middle and higher-paying jobs in innovation sectors such as technology, local employers risk 50% of tech jobs going unfilled unless something changes.
The talent gap for these middle and higher-paying jobs, which can make living in OC affordable, comes from at least two key barriers:
– About 90% of tech jobs in OC require a bachelor’s degree and three to five years of experience, leaving out 60% of OC’s population.
– Emerging talent is not always aware of the job opportunities and career paths in OC, contributing to over a third of STEM talent educated at our local universities leaving the area.
Concurrently, there exists a demographic of young adults in the region who, with the right personalized support, could be prepared for these careers. Mentoring programs can help youngsters improve their lives, according to Harvard University researcher Dr. Raj Chetty.
“By our calculations, the U.S. is missing 3.6 million innovators because women, people of color, and low-income people are not inventing at the same rate as white men who grow up in high-income families,” wrote Chetty, a recipient of the MacArthur “Genius” Fellowship.
“Closing this gap with programs that identify, mentor, and support these ‘lost Einsteins’ is not only about fairness, it is vital for economic growth.”
About 69% of young adult mentees in BBBS programs report that their mentor played a pivotal role in their decision to stay in school, and 77% attribute their post-college plans to the guidance received from their mentors.
This is particularly significant considering that only 21% of young adults in the organization’s post-secondary programs have parents with post-secondary credentials.
The Transformative Impact
With initial funding from the College Futures Foundation and collaborations with leading employers such as Disneyland Resort and JPMorgan Chase, as well as educational institutions like California State University, Fullerton and Cypress College, we’re demonstrating the significant value of mentoring as an investment in future talent.
We are working alongside the CEO Leadership Alliance of Orange County (CLAOC) and Orange County Business Council (OCBC) in the development of comprehensive work-based learning systems that include mentorships.
One key initiative is our partnership with the OC Fellows Program, a two-year endeavor designed by the CLAOC for recent university graduates working at OC-based companies. BBBS pairs these young professionals with college students for career mentoring.
Additionally, BBBS is a member of the Orange County Talent Collaborative, a consortium spearheaded by the CLAOC that brings together mission aligned organizations committed to developing a stronger regional talent pipeline to high-paying careers.
“Continued economic development is essential to maintaining the standard of living we enjoy in Orange County,” said Jeffrey Ball, chief executive of the OCBC. “Critical to achieving that growth is the development of a skilled workforce which includes first-generation students from across the region.
The mentorship programs by BBBS have improved success rates, and we are proud to work with them and support their efforts in transforming lives while enhancing the vitality of our local economy.”
“Mentoring is absolutely a critical component to effective internships and on-the-job training for young talent, especially from underserved communities,” said CLAOC CEO Mark Percy.
“CLAOC is strategically expanding our collaboration with BBBS because our goals and values align well, in addition to their tremendous mentoring expertise.”
Higher Earnings
Mentoring is also a bridge to professional networks and a catalyst for socioeconomic mobility.
A study conducted by the Boston Consulting Group (BCG) analyzing life outcomes of individuals who participated as Little Brothers and Little Sisters revealed that mentored youth were projected to earn an average of $315,000 more throughout their careers than their counterparts.
The stark reality is that many students, especially those from underprivileged backgrounds, are navigating their educational and professional paths without the guidance of a mentor.
This lack of support can lead to missed opportunities and prolonged journeys toward career stability.
Our educational partners share in our belief that mentorship directly impacts career-readiness.
“What is really complementary about BBBS and Cypress College and our mentor programs is that BBBS actually works with our feeder high schools,” said Brittany Hamer, special project director of the Charger Experience Program of Cypress College.
“They launched a few mentor programs there. [BBBS] becomes a household name for a lot of these students. There is trust in that, and they are in good hands to then go on to that mentoring opportunity.”
Investing in robust mentorship programs is essential for the business community of Orange County to foster skills, networking, and personal development that are vital for the long-term prosperity of our region’s workforce.
The demand for mentorship has significantly increased, with mentee inquiries rising by 30% last year, highlighting a critical need for guidance, knowledge, and opportunities.
Looking ahead, the goal of achieving a more equitable and diverse workforce seems attainable. It will require investment of time and effort today to shape the workforce landscape for the future.
By embracing innovations like AI in skills-based learning and group mentoring to enhance the impact of mentoring programs, our efforts are not merely about preparation; we are actively constructing our future talent pipeline.
