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Some people know Big Zack as a cohost of Mojo in the Morning. Around BBBSSEM, you may also recognize him from Runway 313 or his support of Battle of the Bands. But to Little Jason, Zack is something much simpler and more important: his Big.
Jason entered high school looking for a positive male figure in his corner, and the two found plenty of common ground almost immediately. Music was a big part of it. So were conversations about school, careers, confidence, and figuring out what comes next. Over time, those shared interests have become the foundation for a relationship Jason says has helped him feel “more confident about life.” A playlist becomes a bridge One of their early activities asked Jason and Zack to build playlists of songs that made them feel good about themselves and explain why they chose them. What could have stayed a simple activity kept going after the session ended. Zack shared his favorite music. Jason shared his. Then Jason brought in a CD from one of his favorite bands for Zack to hear. Zack genuinely enjoyed it, and suddenly they had another thing that belonged to the two of them: music to trade, debate, and discover together. Making a plan for what comes next As Jason navigated high school, their conversations started stretching beyond the next assignment or semester. Jason wanted a plan for life after school, including a job and eventually a car. Zack could offer something especially useful here: his own career story. He talked with Jason about working in radio, how he found his way into the field, and what it means to start figuring out a career that fits you. Their Match Support Coordinator saw that same growth taking shape. Jason said Zack helps him make plans toward his goals, while Zack described his own role simply: helping Jason maintain his grades, plan for after high school, and work through hard times. Confidence you can see By spring, both of them were noticing a change. Zack said Jason had become more confident and more open to new people. Jason said the same thing about himself: “I have learned how to be more confident and open to meeting new people.” Match Support staff noticed their bond growing session by session, usually accompanied by plenty of smiling and laughing. And when Jason was asked what award his Big should win? “Coolest Big.” Hard to argue with that. Find it here Zack spends part of his professional life talking to thousands of people at once. Mentoring asks for something very different: sitting across from one young person, listening closely, sharing what you know, and coming back again. Jason says he and Zack “get closer every session.” Maybe that is what they have found here: happiness, laughter, common ground, and the confidence that grows when someone consistently helps you see a path forward. You do not need a microphone, a public platform, or all the answers to make that kind of connection. You just need to show up as yourself and make room for a young person beside you. Become a Big, and find it here. When Big Dion and Little Lonnie were matched last fall, their connection came together quickly. From the beginning, they clicked over sports, school, and big-picture goals for the future. Over time, that steady conversation has grown into something more meaningful: a match where Lonnie gets to be fully himself, a kid who loves basketball and soccer, and also someone starting to think more seriously about school, money, and what kind of future he wants to build.
The kind of advice that sticks Dion did not come in trying to lecture. He talked with Lonnie in ways that felt practical, useful, and real. They talked about healthy habits and how eating better can give Lonnie more energy when he plays sports. They talked about school too, including the simple discipline of getting homework done before video games. And when they talked about money, Lonnie listened. Later, he was able to say clearly what he had learned from his Big: that it is important to save his money, and that there are real ways to earn it, even now, by mowing lawns or helping out around the house. Sports, smiles, and something easy between them Lonnie loves sports, especially basketball and soccer, and those became natural ways for the two of them to connect. They also threw the football, played Uno, and joined in on scavenger hunt activities. What matters is not just what they did, but how they were together while doing it. Match support staff repeatedly observed two-way conversation, positive interactions, and Lonnie smiling and laughing during sessions. That kind of ease cannot be faked. It is what happens when a kid feels comfortable. The day he got to be the judge Then came the field trip that seems to have shifted something. On a visit to a federal courthouse, Lonnie took part in a mock trial and got to play the judge. For him, the best parts were wonderfully specific: he got to hit the gavel, sit in the nice chair, and take the role seriously. For Dion, it was bigger than a fun outing. He said it felt like a huge learning experience and that he could see Lonnie thinking about his future as more than just sports. And after that day, Lonnie said he wants to be a judge someday. That is the beautiful thing about exposure. Sometimes one experience opens a door a kid did not know was there. Find it here Maybe what Lonnie and Dion have found here is momentum. A relationship built around trust, laughter, practical wisdom, and one grown man taking the time to talk to a young person like his future matters. That is why mentoring matters in 2026. It is social infrastructure. It helps kids imagine more for themselves, and then start taking small steps toward it. In this match, that looks like homework before games, saving money a little at a time, and a kid leaving a courtroom thinking, maybe one day I could sit in that chair for real. Become a Big, and find it here. |
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BBBS SOUTHEAST MICHIGAN
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