Big Brothers Big Sisters Twin Cities Theory of Action
Co-creating the path to youth thriving.
Big Brothers Big Sisters Twin Cities (BBBSTC) is dedicated to empowering young people by connecting them to supportive mentors, enriching experiences, and a broader network of caring adults. As the organization serves youth in a continually shifting social landscape, BBBSTC recognized the need to revisit and clarify its foundational program logic—its theory of action. The goal is to establish a common language for BBBSTC’s positive youth development efforts, providing the foundation for building a cohesive, aligned measurement strategy. Understanding the needs and motivations of participants is key: funders seek clear proof of program impact, volunteers want guidance on how best to support mentee relationships, and youth look for programs that respect and reflect their identities. Meeting these needs requires a unified approach that connects everyone involved to the mission and outcomes. This operational guide articulates how programs are designed, what activities are undertaken, and the impact those actions are intended to have on youth participants. To ensure this theory truly reflected both contemporary research and on-the-ground experience, BBBSTC entered a collaborative partnership with Search Institute, with a focus on improving the quality of mentoring relationships and strengthening program impact.
Theory of Action
The process began with a shared vision: equipping BBBSTC staff at all levels with a clear, actionable roadmap for program delivery and youth outcomes. Search Institute brought methodological expertise and a proven focus on developmental relationships—the critical connections between young people and adults that foster growth, resilience, and opportunity.
Together, with Search institute's guidance and coaching, BBBSTC staff worked to co-create a renewed theory of action with two core components:
- Activities: represent the building blocks of programming—the interactions, tools, events, and systems that BBBSTC intentionally implements. These activities range from structured mentorship sessions to enrichment events, each purposefully designed to nurture meaningful relationships and engage young people in their own development.
- Outcomes: articulate the intended effects of these activities: positive changes in behavior, knowledge, skills, and well-being for youth.
A cornerstone of the new theory of action is the understanding that relationship-building is not accidental. True developmental relationships result from deliberate, thoughtful, and regular practices. BBBSTC’s theory of action now explicitly calls for staff and mentors to approach every interaction with intention—thinking ahead, being fully present in the moment, and continuously reflecting to strengthen connections.
The partnership with Search Institute has offered us an important opportunity to pause and reflect deeply on who we are as an organization—our values, our commitments, and our responsibility to the youth and families we serve.
Jennifer Bartels and Princess Awa-Ada Kisob
President of People & Impact and Vice President of Programs, BBBSTC
Collaboration and Inclusion
The co-design process itself is a model for collaboration and inclusion. Search Institute led a series of activities including document reviews, an in-depth theory of action workshop, focus groups, and a staff survey, to ensure insights came from every corner of the BBBSTC team. Staff from executive leadership, program operations, advancement, data and impact, and more contributed their perspectives, leading to a theory that is both research-based and deeply grounded in day-to-day practice.
The theory of action allows BBBSTC staff to focus on further understanding how activities and outcomes are incorporated into programs and measurements. We are continuing to work together to define a set of measures tailored to BBBSTC’s needs and build staff capacity through training on developmental relationships. Going forward, our collaborative partnership aims to support BBBSTC as they cultivate an asset- and relationship-focused culture through programs, experiences, continued training, and structures. The result is a revitalized theory of action that guides, inspires, and grows with BBBSTC’s mission—ensuring every young person has the relationships and support they need to thrive.
“This process reminds us that our work extends beyond programs," add Jennifer and Princess. "It’s about living our identity with purposeful action at every level of the organization."
Photos courtesy of Big Brothers Big Sisters Twin Cities.
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