BRATTLEBORO — Youth Services recently hired Gina Graciano as a match specialist for its Big Brothers Big Sisters' site and community-based mentoring programs.
Graciano comes to the agency's mentoring program with similar experience providing support to matches and families for Big Brothers Big Sisters in Manchester, N.H. She also works part-time as a school counselor.
Site-based Big Brothers Big Sisters programs take place during lunchtime hours or after-school at numerous elementary schools in Windham County while the adult mentors in the community-based program arrange to meet with their “Littles” at varying times most convenient for their schedule; often times after work or on weekends.
Graciano is already recruiting, interviewing, and screening prospective mentoring volunteers to match with Littles currently on a wait list. She said she enjoys hearing from Bigs about the positive and unexpected impacts their Littles have on their adult lives in addition to witnessing the significant progress in self-esteem and academic success by the Littles.
According to Kimberley Diemond, director of mentoring at Youth Services, Graciano's strengths are in connecting with families and the children we serve. “Gina also has a great insight into who people are, what motivates them, and how well they'll interact when matched together,” Diemond stated.
Graciano is focusing her energy this fall on finding more Bigs for the new lunch-time program at Central Elementary School in Bellows Falls in addition to the more established ones at Green Street, Academy and Marlboro elementary schools.
Graciano finds her experience working as a school counselor and in academia for the last nine years to be very helpful in her position with Big Brothers Big Sisters.
“I've worked with kids, young adults, parents and community members in various capacities and I always enjoy connecting with people as individuals first. I expect to be able to not only increase the number of youth we serve but continue to build a solid program this school year and beyond,” Graciano said.