Uniting employees with local youth

CORAL GABLES, Fla. – As one of the few departments that serves every single entity and stakeholder that the University touches—faculty, staff, visitors, students, donors, and trustees—the team at UM parking and transportation has a unique opportunity to interact with ’Canes from across the community. The team works closely together to make the parking and mobility experience pleasant for all.

So in August 2018 when Richard Sobaram, executive director of parking and transportation, was asked by his colleagues to participate as mentors in Big Brothers Big Sisters (BBBS), they knew he would sign off—and sign up to join them as mentors.  

“I have the best job at the University of Miami and I mean that,” said Sobaram. “I work with a team that tries to help make people’s lives better. I support my team in what they do; that’s my job.”

Having been a “big”—defined as a regular person without any special degrees or job skills who wants to positively impact a young person—five years prior as part of the School to Work program at the U, Sobaram admits that if he were doing it alone, he would not have thought about the small touches his colleagues contribute.

In February, Doris Enamorado and Lluvia Resendiz, managers in parking and transportation, prepared personalized heart-shaped chocolate candies, which the three mentors each gifted to their “littles” the day before Valentine’s Day during their monthly campus visit. “My little was taken aback that I wrote his name correctly because his name has a unique spelling,” said Sobaram. “It was a small gesture, but it made an impact.”

Sobaram emigrated from Jamaica a shy, 17-year-old with a thick accent, and over the years,  has transformed into the outgoing, supportive leader his team has grown to know well and appreciate. Since his first role at the U, which involved overseeing a student-run night security program in the residential colleges, Sobaram has had much experience working with students. During the 15 years he spent managing a team of 80 students, he met more than 1,000 young men and women and saw their transformation as college students.

The program 

Since 2013, the University and Big Brothers Big Sisters has partnered to match local high school students with mentors. This year, working with students from Turner Tech Medical Academy and Southwest High School, the program’s goals included personal branding and resiliency, navigating college financial aid and admissions, and exposure to more careers.

During monthly visits—a total of eight throughout the academic year—littles are bussed from their high school to UM’s campus during a weekday morning to meet with their bigs, both the students and UM employees have the opportunity to learn about a variety of aspects about UM. This year, visits have included field trips to the Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science where the group toured the facilities and learned about some of the research being conducted and a guided group tour of the School of Nursing and Health Science state-of-the-art simulation hospital.

Together, bigs and littles gain a unique experience and exposure to different research opportunities, roles, and activities happening in the UM community each month. For littles, the hope is that they gain a sense of interest and focus on what they’ll pursue after completing high school, whether it’s college or technical training.

The University offers BBBS participants something unique: it’s a business—one of the largest employers in south Florida—but it also the exposes high school students to a college campus. This combination is ideal for setting the stage for littles to consider all the possibilities out there for them and the pathways to getting there, and their bigs are there to help them along the way.

“All that exposure impresses and impacts them in ways you can’t describe,” said Enamorado. “I know when they leave here they’re hooked. The students see people who are relatable to them—they’re young wearing a backpack walking around in flip flops and shorts on their way to class.” She stresses that because of that, this environment at the University is one of the best fits for BBBS.

The program, organized by UM inclusion programs manager Aniette Lauredo, is meaningful for students and employees. “Each session gets even better every month,” said Resendiz. “My little said to me recently ‘I was in a room with greatness—the speakers, you guys. Where would I be exposed to that level of conversation, with everyone mindful to keep it real for us?’

The reward 

Looking back, Sobaram still thinks fondly of certain people throughout his life that made an impact. Whether it was his teachers, cricket coach, or a family member, there were certain people who helped boost his confidence, and made him feel good and valued. “If we can do that for these kids, we can walk away feeling that we made one slight improvement today.”  

“I have no idea what’s going to happen to these students years from now—and we may not keep in contact 20 years from now—but if each of us does something like this, I think we’re going to create better people in this world.”

One goal of the program is connecting the University to future talent and supporting a culture of inclusion and belonging. As mentors, bigs have an opportunity to develop leadership skills, network with colleagues, and get out of their office once a month while giving a few hours of their time.

“I sometimes wonder if I get more out of it than the littles,” said Sobaram. “There’s a sense of satisfaction without any accolades.”

What's next? 

For Sobaram, Enamorado, and Resendiz, it’s only the beginning. Their littles still have a few years left before graduating from high school, and much to learn about themselves, each other, and the world around them.

By planning insightful monthly visits, complete with thought-provoking leaders and activities at the University, Lauredo hopes to inspire more bigs and littles to get involved in the program.

“Supporting this program shows the community that UM cares,” said Resendiz. “To commit your staff and allow them the opportunity to volunteer their time on University time is worth more than whatever financial dollars you can donate. The staff’s time and energy goes directly to the students and that’s priceless.”

Fourteen students are on track to receive their high school diplomas in June and the group will celebrate on Thursday, May 23 with a graduation lunch at UM during their last visit until next fall.

The Big Brothers Big Sisters' School to Work program is led by the Workplace Equity and Performance team in University Human Resources. For more information about the program or how to get involved, contact Aniette Lauredo at alauredo@miami.edu or 305-284-8195.

Photos: Brittney Bomnin/University of Miami