Tahnee Robinson Featured in Big Brothers Big Sister Public Service Announcement

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PHILADELPHIA - Starting in January 2012, Big Brothers Big Sisters affiliates serving American Indian youth will work with local television stations and social media friends to share the Public Service Announcement featuring Tahnee Robinson.

Robinson, who grew up on Wind River Reservation in Fort Washakie, Wyoming, was the first American Indian athletes drafted to the WNBA and is now playing abroad in Israel. Her Mother is Pawnee and Shoshone, while her father is Northern Cheyenne and Sioux.

Tahnee Robinson-Shoshone

“Mentoring is about putting a child on a path to success and giving kids the power to believe that they can achieve their dreams,”

said Robinson. "While I was fortunate enough to count my parents as my true mentors, I will always do whatever it takes to make sure kids have the mentorship and tools they deserve, and the Big Brothers Big Sisters organization does that better than anyone."

In addition to the PSA, Big Brothers Big Sisters affiliates will begin placing in local print and web media advertising to engage more families, volunteers, partners and donor support. Designed by American Indian marketing firm G&G, the ads feature Native American and Alaska Native mentors and mentees who are already enrolled in Big Brothers Big Sisters' mentoring programs.

With support from the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, Big Brothers Big Sisters established its Native American Tribal Community Initiative in 2008. The program serves more than 3500 Native American young people, 42 percent of whom are matched with Native American mentors. Continued Office of Juvenile Justice support is bolstering funding in 25 tribal communities and 10 reservations and pueblos across the country, where American Indian staff, with the help of advisors and elders, carefully match youth with mentors and provide ongoing support to the adult volunteers, mentees and the children's families.

"The program is already resulting in measurable positive outcomes, most notably improved attitudes toward antisocial behavior; stronger parental and peer relationships; better school attendance and scholastic competence; and higher educational expectations, social competencies and school attendance," said Big Brothers Big Sisters of America Director of Native American Mentoring, Ivy Wright-Bryan, a member of the Pyramid Lake Paiute tribe in Nevada.

"Our local affiliates are engaged with local businesses; educational and vocational training institutions; community non-profit groups; and faith-based institutions that serve Native Americans."

posted December 6, 2011 9:10 am est