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Staff Spotlight: Staff Member Learns From 'Little Sister' Through Mentoring

04/04/2019

Ashlee Reece (Law ’17), SLU’s Office of Equal Opportunity and Title IX equity officer, has been a mentor through Big Brothers Big Sisters of Eastern Missouri (BBBSEMO) since her days as a student in the University’s School of Law.

Chanda and Ashlee Reece

Reece was drawn to the Big Brothers Big Sisters mission due to her commitment to ensuring St. Louis youth have support as they face and overcome challenges including violence. Submitted photo

Though not Reece’s first experience with mentoring, the relationship she and her “Little” Candra has grown over several years, forming a bond that has impacted both in unexpected ways.

Over the past three and half years, Chanda and Reece have bonded over a shared love of dance and horror movies. Although Reece said she wasn’t a perfect “Big,” early in their relationship, she learned more about accountability to others and how being there for a young person can change a person’s priorities.

“Now, whenever I want to do something, the first person I call is Candra; and whenever Candra wants to go somewhere or do something, she calls me,” Reece said.

Reece was drawn to the Big Brothers Big Sisters mission due to her commitment to ensuring St. Louis youth have support as they face and overcome challenges including violence.

“If we committed to the mission of Big Brothers, Big Sisters by entering strong and enduring relationships that change lives with children facing adversity, we could sow good seeds,” Reece explained, citing statistics showing young people under the age of 25 are disproportionally impacted by gun violence in St. Louis. Reece recalled the message of films like The Hate U Give that tackle racial issues and the controversy surrounding police violence. The film resonated with her deeply after she took Chanda to a screening.

“Children in St. Louis are facing adversity,” she said. “It does not get more adverse than life or death. There is a need for us to get involved with our youth, and Big Brothers, Big Sisters is one of the ways that you can.”

Interested in learning more about becoming a Big to a deserving child or teen? Contact Ericka Sanders, volunteer recruitment manager, at esanders@bbbemo.org or call (314) 615-1041. You can also learn more – and sign up to become a volunteer today – by visiting http://www.bbbsemo.org/volunteer/volunteer-process/.

Staff Spotlight is an occasional series dedicated to revealing the stories behind the name badges of SLU's staff members. To suggest a staff member to shine a light on, contact Newslink or call 314-977-2519.