05/10/2026
Big Brother Brunch Brings Generations Together for Mentorship, Conversation and Community
PINE BLUFF, Ark. — Young men from across the Pine Bluff community gathered Saturday, October 3, for the Big Brother Brunch, a mentoring event designed to connect youth with positive male role models while creating a space for candid conversations about education, careers, relationships and the decisions that shape their futures.
The event was hosted by the Boys & Girls Club of Jefferson County in conjunction with the City of Pine Bluff, Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office, and First Ward Living Grace Food Pantry.
Jefferson County Sheriff Lafayette Woods Jr. served as the keynote speaker, sharing encouragement and perspective with the young men and emphasizing the importance of making sound choices, accepting responsibility, pursuing opportunities and surrounding themselves with people who will positively influence their lives.
The heart of the Big Brother Brunch was conversation. Rather than simply asking young people to listen to adults speak, organizers created an environment where youth could ask questions, discuss real-life challenges and hear directly from men with diverse professional and personal experiences.
Dialogue centered on career pathways, educational opportunities, healthy relationships, social and emotional health, decision-making, personal responsibility and navigating the challenges young men encounter as they grow into adulthood.
The discussions were led by Timothy Campbell, mentor and community leader; Nathaniel Baker of What’s Next Pine Bluff; and attorney Efrem Neely, along with a host of additional community partners and mentors who spent time engaging directly with the youth.
Throughout the event, participants enjoyed a buffet of food while taking part in robust conversations about life. The relaxed brunch setting helped break down barriers between generations and allowed young people to engage with community leaders not simply by title or profession, but as mentors willing to listen, answer questions and share lessons from their own experiences.
For the Boys & Girls Club of Jefferson County, the event was about more than a single Saturday gathering. The Big Brother Brunch is part of the organization’s broader commitment to providing young people with consistent access to caring adults, mentoring relationships and opportunities that help them develop academically, socially and emotionally.
“Our young men need more than people telling them what they should become. They need men willing to sit at the table with them, listen to them, answer the difficult questions and help them see the possibilities for their lives,” said Tavante Calhoun Sr., CEO of the Boys & Girls Club of Jefferson County. “The Big Brother Brunch allowed us to bring generations together around one table. We want our young people to know that there are men throughout Pine Bluff and Jefferson County who are invested in their success and willing to walk alongside them.”
The Club facilitated the event as part of its ongoing mentoring activities, which are supported in part through pass-through funding from Boys & Girls Clubs of America associated with the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP). OJJDP is an office of the U.S. Department of Justice.
Organizers said the collaboration demonstrated what is possible when government, law enforcement, nonprofit organizations, professionals, mentors and community members work collectively to invest in young people.
The message of the Big Brother Brunch was simple but significant: young men should not have to navigate life alone.
By placing youth at the same table with mentors, professionals, law enforcement officials and community leaders, the event sought to strengthen relationships, expose young people to new opportunities and ensure that the next generation has trusted adults available to help them make informed choices and build successful futures.
About the Boys & Girls Club of Jefferson County
The Boys & Girls Club of Jefferson County provides academic enrichment, leadership development, mentoring, healthy lifestyles, workforce readiness, STEM and other youth-development opportunities to children, teens and young adults throughout Pine Bluff and Jefferson County.
