Collection:LPB

Genre: Newsmagazine

Place Covered: Baton Rouge, East Baton Rouge Parish, Louisiana

Copyright Holder: Louisiana Educational Television Authority

Date Issued: 1989-10-22

Duration: 00:17:39

Subjects: Mentoring | Big Buddy Program (Baton Rouge, La.) | African Americans

Contributors:

• Masingale, Sonya Host
• Gillette, Thomas Interviewee
• Jackson, Leonard Interviewee
• Duke, Jenola Interviewee
• Geiser, Jim Interviewee
• McFarland, Gaylynne Interviewee

This segment from the October 22, 1989, episode of the series “Folks” features Sonya Masingale’s report on the importance of African American men serving as mentors to African American youth. She profiles two Baton Rouge police officers who serve as flag football coaches through the Big Buddy Program, Sergeant Thomas Gillette and Officer Leonard Jackson. Masingale also conducts an in-studio interview with: Jenola Duke, the director of Volunteers in Public Schools in Baton Rouge; Jim Geiser, the director of the Big Buddy Program in Baton Rouge; and Gaylynne McFarland, the activities coordinator for Big Buddy. They discuss: the increase in the number of black men serving as mentors in the Big Buddy program; the importance of underprivileged youth interacting with role models; volunteering with Big Buddy; the tutoring programs coordinated by Volunteers in Public Schools; and the emotional benefits of volunteering for the mentors.