Beyond School Walls (BSW) is the official workplace mentoring
program of Big Brothers Big Sisters of America. Since its founding with Comcast NBCUniversal in 2008, the BSW program has grown to support nearly 8,500 matches across
53 agencies in more than 30 states annually according to data from the 2020 BBBSA Network Snapshot. This is the result of partnerships with 343 workplace partners, including 29 Fortune 100 companies.

How Does it Work?
BSW is a flexible model that allows agencies to create or adapt curricula that align with the strategic direction of business and school partners. This requires a collaborative effort among the corporate partner, a high school (or middle school), and the local Big Brothers Big Sisters agency. 

Characteristics of BSW programs:

• “Littles” (high schoolers 15-18 years old or middle school students 12-14 years old) are engaged in one-to-one mentoring relationships with a “Big” (one adult professional) in a workplace setting or designated mentoring site.

• Match meetings occur monthly during the school year, typically at the business partner location with the youth being transported to the designated location.

• The Big and Little participate in group educational programming focused on workforce development topics, including career exploration, professional skill development, and teambuilding activities.

• Matches explore specific career interests together one-on-one after the group session and shadow the business mentor growing valuable workplace skills and knowledge to help aid in career exploration, knowledge, and confidence.

• Matches tend to participate in a cohort model with classmates culminating in a “graduation” after each year or matches may remain together for multiple years in the program.